Bush-Hu talks produce little action

During his weekend state visit to China, US President George W Bush urged China to expand religious, political and social freedoms, while Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to further open China's markets to US farmers and businesses, though no specific plans were discussed. While no breakthrough resulted from Bush's demand for greater currency reform, Hu promised Bush that China would "unswervingly" move in that direction and take steps to reduce the US-China trade imbalance. On the sensitive topic of Taiwan, Hu told the US leader that his nation is committed to reunification with the island and would "by no means tolerate so-called Taiwan independence". Bush said Sino-US relations were important and invited Hu to the US next year, an invitation Hu accepted.