Candid talks constructive

Consultations between the United States and China bridge gaps in understanding and help prevent misjudgments

Regional security in the Asia-Pacific region has drawn a great deal of international and domestic attention for years. The cause is not the likelihood of rivalry between Beijing and Washington, but the growing concern about possible "flash points", ranging from sea disputes between China, Vietnam and the Philippines, the forthcoming launch of China's first aircraft carrier, and the greater "assertiveness" of Chinese foreign policy.

The attention is usually focused on Sino-US relations, as this relationship is regarded as determining stability, peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.