NEWS,04.05.2012.

US and China in talks as ties at great risk

 U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) and China's Vice President Xi Jinping attend a dinner at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on May 3, 2012. Clinton on told China that it cannot deny the "aspirations" of its citizens as she opened talks in Beijing marred by a row over a Chinese dissident.The fourth round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue opened here today, with the two global players expected to boost their strategic mutual trust as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visits.The current trust gap between Beijing and Washington stems from continual trade disputes, and more importantly, lack of concrete action on the US side to prove that its strategic shift to the Asia-Pacific region poses no threat to China. As a case in point, recent months have seen Washington moving to forge a closer military relationship with Manila through military assistance, warship sales and joint drills. The development comes at a time when the Philippines has been brazenly challenging China’s sovereignty over Huangyan Island, an integral part of China’s territory since ancient times. Despite US claims that it is not taking sides in the issue, its action speaks a louder truth: It is projecting visible influence, just as is desired by the Philippines. To preserve and promote the hard-earned China-US mutual trust, the United States needs to make more earnest efforts, instead of paying only lip service. In regard to trade disputes, many sober minds have pointed out that the punitive duties the United States has repeatedly slapped on Chinese goods are harmful not only to Chinese industries but to the recovering US economy. It is in the interests of both sides that US decision-makers sit down with their Chinese counterparts and negotiate a solution to their trade frictions, rather than simply resort to protectionist measures. In mid-April, China widened the trading band of its currency against the US dollar, a major step towards further increasing the flexibility of the yuan, which has been appreciating against the greenback since 2005. With China committed to reforming the yuan’s exchange rate regime, it is time that the United States discarded the ill-founded argument that its huge trade deficit with China is caused by the yuan’s “artificially low” exchange rate. In addition, the United States needs to play its due part in re-balancing bilateral trade by, among other things, removing the trade barriers against China. (Xinhua)

Polls show Sarkozy gaining on Hollande

Paris - Two polls released on Friday showed President Nicolas Sarkozy trimming Socialist Francois Hollande's lead for France's presidential runoff vote, the latest surveys to show the incumbent gaining ground after Wednesday's televised debate.A survey by pollster BVA showed Hollande taking 52.5% of the vote in Sunday's final round of the presidential election, down two points from late April, with Sarkozy taking 47.5%, a rise of two points.Separately, TNS-Sofres showed Hollande's score edging down 1.5 points to 53.5% from last week, with Sarkozy rising to 46.5% from 45% previously.A majority in the BVA survey still thought Hollande was most convincing in the televised debate, with 40% believing he gained the upper hand, against 31% who preferred the conservative Sarkozy.Four surveys conducted since the face-off have now shown Sarkozy gaining ground, following similar results from Harris Interactive and CSA on Thursday.A separate poll by OpinionWay carried out half before and half after the debate showed the Socialist frontrunner's lead narrowing to five points.Despite Sarkozy's gains, Hollande still retains a comfortable lead for Sunday's vote, with an average of recent opinion polls putting him six points ahead.The latest polls were also conducted before centrist Francois Bayrou's declaration on Thursday that he would not back Sarkozy in the second round, leaving his supporters to make up their own minds.Sarkozy's best hope of winning the vote hinge on his gaining support from at least 80% of far-rightist Marine Le Pen's voters, and around half of Bayrou's. Bayrou said on Thursday he objected to Sarkozy's recent lurch to the right, and that he himself would vote for Hollande.According to Friday's TNS-Sofres survey, 32% of those who voted Bayrou in the first round would vote for Sarkozy on Sunday while 37% would back Hollande. Meanwhile, 52% of Le Pen voters would choose Sarkozy in round two against 7% for Hollande, with a further 41% abstaining.