About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


1 (March 30, 1999)

handle is hein.crs/crsmthaazqq0001 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 Apil 8, 1999, Premier Zhu Rongji wIl gin bhis first official visit to the Uited States slince his selectioni as Cinfa's Pimie Minister inl March 1998. ZhuL'S vi]sit is aniother 111~imprant Step inl a seeingiily perenniial effort to imiprov e U,.S.-Chlina r-elationis. AlthloughY Ui.S. policymiaers have tried to lower expectatins about the visit's potenitial acievemients,thier-e iswidespriead speclationi that a deal miay be inl the w\orksthat could pav e the w\ay for Ch Iina's access]in to the Worl d Trade Orgai1zati on (WVTO), a mllatter under negotiation for over a decade nol. Plemie Zh has been candid about his hopes for_ such anl agreemient. Bu~t both U.S. anid Chinlese gYOvernImenit officials remiali hiamistrungl( by domiestic political conistr-aints that miay miae it difficlt to reach accommiiodationi Onl substanitive miatters. President Clinitoni is already under fire for his Chlina policy, w\hich somie critics allege has miade too manym conicessins to Be*ijig anid has evenl comiproised U.S. niatinal secuity. Althoughl ZhuL is inl a strong(er positioni at homie, his ablity, to miae conicessins su~fficienlt for WVTO accessioni is conistr-ained by China's gYrow\ingY econioic, political, anid social problemis, somie of w\hich are the r~eslt of niew, p~aliful reforms chamipined by ZhuL himiself. Any\ agreemient onl WTO that miay comle ou~t Of thle ZhuL v isit IS therefor-e lik ely to be challeng-ed by k ey constitu~encies Inl 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 cri si s relatively well, Congressional Research Service oe The Library of Congress CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web