China foreign minstry welcomes Mnuchin to China for trade talks

(3 May 2018) China's foreign ministry on Thursday welcomed the arrival of US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and other delegates in Beijing for talks on a festering dispute over trade and technology. The mission, which includes US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, is due to hold talks later Thursday and Friday with Chinese officials led by Liu He, President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser. Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Hua Chunying stressed that talks "must be on the basis of equal footing and mutual respect." On media reports that said China has installed defensive missiles in the disputed Spratly Islands, Hua said China's  deployment of "necessary defensive facilities" was for "safeguarding national sovereignty and security." "The relevant deployment does not target any country", she added. Meanwhile, asked about the status of the widow of Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, Hua said she had no information but reiterated that the issue would be handled in "accordance with laws." A close friend of the late Liu Xiaobo has released a recording of what is said to be an emotional phone call with his widow. Liu Xia has never been charged with a crime, but has been kept guarded and largely isolated since her late husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights activism in 2010. The exiled writer Liao Yiwu said in an essay published on Wednesday that Liu told him in a recent phone call that she has given up hope of being able to leave China and feels it is "easier to die than live." Liao also says Chinese authorities repeatedly told Liu that she would soon be able to leave. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...