US adviser arrives in Beijing for talks

The United States National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon will meet with Chinese leaders this week in talks analysts are describing as a "fire extinguisher" for the two countries at loggerheads on a range of international issues.

Donilon was scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Monday evening and hold talks on Tuesday with State Councilor Dai Bingguo, one of the highest-ranking figures in Chinese foreign policy, and President Hu Jintao.

On Wednesday, he will meet Vice-Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Xu Caihou, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan, who is in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs, and Vice-President Xi Jinping, before continuing his trip to Tokyo.

A statement from the White House said Donilon will discuss "the current and future state of US-China relations" and "cooperation on regional and global challenges of mutual concern including nonproliferation, regional security in Asia and the Middle East, and global economic growth".

Analysts said Iran, Syria, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and China's dispute with Japan over the Diaoyu Islands are also likely to be discussed.

Bonnie Glaser, a Chinese security expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank, said it is important for the US and China to sustain high-level contact. She said these talks are a good opportunity to discuss the bilateral relationship as well as regional and global problems.

"As I recall, Donilon was supposed to visit China last year, the trip was announced and then it was canceled," she said.

"Exchanging views on developments inside North Korea, how to forestall another nuclear test or provocations, and how to promote progress toward denuclearization are all important topics," Glaser said.