US, China urge more US exports

China's commerce minister Bo Xilai and his US counterpart Carlos Gutierrez agreed at a meeting Monday that trade imbalances between the two nations should be addressed through increased US exports to China and not protectionist moves by Washington, AFP reported. Both noted growing American imports to China, which climbed 34% so far this year according to Gutierrez, and the need for more. The US commerce secretary arrived Sunday with a delegation of 25 American business leaders for a five-day visit amid speculation over whether the new Democrat-led US Congress could get tougher on China over its trade surplus, which hit a record US$201 billion in 2005 and is on pace to expand further this year. Bo denied China was trying to maintain a trade surplus, noting it was expected to become the third-largest export market for the US next year. He said China would "endeavor to balance trade".