Paulson hints at new China policy

Newly-nominated US Treasury secretary Hank Paulson said the US should pressure Beijing to reform and open up its financial system, a move that would allow China's currency to move to a market-driven exchange rate, the Financial Times reported. Speaking to the committee overseeing his nomination, former Goldman Sachs chairman and chief executive Paulson said that until China has a "fully functioning financial system" they are not going to be able to have a currency that trades in the competitive marketplace.� Paulson has visited China more than 70 times since 1990. His remarks appear to build on the stance taken by his predecessor John Snow.