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1 1 (March 30, 1999)

handle is hein.crs/crsahby0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS20135 March 30, 1999 China-U.S. Summitry: Premier Zhu Rongji's April 1999 Visit Kerry Dumbaugh Specialist in Asian Affairs Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary On April 8, 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji will begin his first official visit to the United States since his selection as China's Prime Minister in March 1998. Zhu's visit is another important step in a seemingly perennial effort to improve U.S.-China relations. Although U.S. policymakers have tried to lower expectations about the visit's potential achievements, there is widespread speculation that a deal may be in the works that could pave the way for China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), a matter under negotiation for over a decade now. Premier Zhu has been candid about his hopes for such an agreement. But both U.S. and Chinese government officials remain hamstrung by domestic political constraints that may make it difficult to reach accommodation on substantive matters. President Clinton is already under fire for his China policy, which some critics allege has made too many concessions to Beijing and has even compromised U.S. national security. Although Zhu is in a stronger position at home, his ability to make concessions sufficient for WTO accession is constrained by China's growing economic, political, and social problems, some of which are the result of new, painful reforms championed by Zhu himself. Any agreement on WTO that may come out of the Zhu visit is therefore likely to be challenged by key constituencies in both countries. Background to Current U.S.-China Troubles For the past decade, the U.S.-China relationship has continued to seesaw between notable improvements and frustrating setbacks. Eighteen months ago, much about the relationship appeared destined to improve its prospects. Clinton Administration officials continued to emphasize dialogue and engagement with Chinese leaders, and they believed that China had made important shifts in its willingness to abide by international agreements, such as in its decision to minimize nuclear cooperation with Iran. Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese rule, anticipated with trepidation, occurred without incident on July 1, 1997. And despite the devastating financial crisis that affected all major Asian countries beginning in late 1997, China appeared to be weathering the crisis relatively well, Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web