US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is visiting China and is expected to arrive in Beijing on Sunday as a long-standing bilateral agreement between the two countries is set to expire. File photo by Jemal Comtesse/UPI
US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is expected to face pressure from China to renew a 40-year-old technology pact during her four-day visit to Beijing starting Sunday, where she will meet senior Chinese government officials . File photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI
Aug. 26 (UPI) — US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo is visiting China this weekend and technology is expected to be the main topic, as a long-standing technology deal between the two countries is set to expire.
Raimondo is expected to arrive in China on Sunday and is expected to face pressure from Beijing to renew the Sino-U.S. science and technology agreement during her four-day visit, where she will meet senior Chinese government officials.
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The China-U.S. agreement was first signed in 1979 under then-President. Jimmy Carter and has historically been renewed every five years. It serves as a framework agreement for scientific relations between the U.S. and Chinese governments, but it now faces opposition from Republican members of Congress, some of whom combat China uses it for military and defense purposes.
U.S. officials said nothing was imminent regarding the renewal of the technology deal signed by Carter and the former Chinese leader. Deng Xiaoping.
Raimondo, the 52-year-old former governor Rhode Islandwill become the third member of the president Joe BidenThe government cabinet has been visiting China since June. secretary of the treasury Janet Yellen visited Beijing in July. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken took a two-day trip to China in June.
Although his official mandate is to boost trade between the two countries, Raimondo is expected to discuss a wide range of pressing issues with Chinese officials, including Commerce Minister Wang Wenta, sources said the South China Morning Post.
Data security, China’s anti-espionage laws and ban covering the importation of electronic chips produced by Idaho-based Micron Technology, are expected to be among the most pressing topics.
The Chinese government in July said it would start to limit exports of two rare raw metals used in the production of microchips.
At the time, the move was widely seen as retaliation against the defunct US semiconductor maker. export restrictions against Beijing, which have been a major priority under the Biden presidency.
The bans on gallium and germanium came into force in early August.
“I look forward to constructive discussions on our trade relationship, the challenges facing American businesses and areas of potential cooperation,” Raimondo said. told reporters Tuesday.
