The United States vice president has wrapped up a visit to China, during which he
raised a range of concerns -- from freedom of the press to China's recent demands
to foreign aircraft.
Listen to regional correspondent Alastair Wanklyn's report...
U.S.
Vice President Joe Biden held five and a half hours of talks with China's president,
later saying he was direct about Washington's expectations: "We've had many disagreements,
and some profound disagreements on some of those issues right now -- the treatment
of U.S. journalists."
The vice president was referring to China's apparent
curbs on the work of the New York Times newspaper and the Bloomberg news agency after
they published investigations into the wealth amassed by Communist Party leaders and
their circle.
The vice president also discussed U.S. concerns about China's
recent demand that some aircraft outside its borders register their flight plans
-- even if they won't fly over China.
Biden said the move has caused anxiety
in the region.
Separately, he said there is nothing inevitable about conflict
between Beijing and Washington: "In fact, we see considerable common interest on the
security side. A secure and peaceful Asia Pacific enables economic growth for the
entire region."
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the U.S. defence secretary said
both the U.S. and China have made efforts towards building stronger links between
their militaries. Chuck Hagel said in particular they are trying to create ways to
address tensions in the seas off China's coast, which, he said: "probably are not
going to get any less complicated."