U.S.-China Clashes Laid Bare in Latest Talks

U.S. and Chinese officials in Washington on Monday laid out differences on human rights in China, U.S. exports on high technology products, and China's exchange rate as they held ongoing talks to resolve strategic and economic issues.

President Barack Obama met with a Chinese delegation on Monday to resolve outstanding issues on trade imbalances, nuclear concerns with Iran and North Korea, and human rights.

Chinese President Hu Jintao - not at the meeting - issued a statement through an envoy saying China would strengthen cooperation and handle their differences properly as the countries moved forward.

Chinese officials, including Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo were in Washington D.C. on Monday at the start of the two day of formal talks known as the Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Quishan urged the U.S. to make breakthroughs on relaxing high-tech export controls, according to state news agency Xinhua.

The way to resolve the imbalance is to ease the export control regime of the United States toward China and to encourage U.S. export to China rather than restricting Chinese export to the United States, said Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming at a press briefing.

Obama also raised U.S. concerns about the current human rights situation in China, according to a White House readout of the meeting of the President and the delegation.

Earlier on Monday Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden raised the issue of detained and disappeared people in China.

We see reports of people, including public interest lawyers, writers, artists, and others, who are detained or disappeared, she said.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner laid out the United States' core priorities as China's move towards a more flexible exchange rate with more capital markets, financial sector reforms, and ensuring a level playing field in various sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, energy or advanced technology.