U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Media Note
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
December 16, 2008

Conclusion of the Sixth Round of the U.S.-China Senior Dialogue

The sixth round of the U.S.-China Senior Dialogue took place in Washington D.C. on December 15. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte and State Councilor Dai Bingguo co-chaired a full day of consultations on a range of bilateral and international topics.

Among the topics discussed were the tensions in South Asia in the wake of the bombings in Mumbai, Iran's continued defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions aimed at dissuading its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. The two also exchanged views on bilateral military and nonproliferation issues, human rights, and stability in Asia, including recent developments in the Six-Party Talks to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.

The Senior Dialogue round concluded with a dinner celebrating the achievements in U.S.-China relations since diplomatic relations were established nearly thirty years ago.

Previous rounds of the Senior Dialogue were held in Beijing in August 2005, Washington in December 2005, Beijing in October 2006, Washington in June 2007, and Guiyang in January 2008.

2008/1057

Released on December 16, 2008