It's his first trip to China since taking on his current role.  US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner will meet today and tomorrow with Chinese officials in what's being described by the Americans as trip to strengthen economic ties.  Though of course a very general statement, one has to expect that a number of important issues will be addressed. Meanwhile, quite a bit of expectation surround the Obama Administration's nomination of Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr. as the new US Ambassador to China.  Huntsman is fluent in Putonghua, having adopted a Chinese daughter.  So what is the expectation when it comes to the Obama Administration's position on relations with China?  And what will the Chinese government be looking to hear from Geithner during his time here in Beijing? 

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  In this edition of the show we're discussing Sino-US relations.  So let's get started.

(Music)

First we'll hear from an academic from the US.  Franklin Allen is a Nippon Life Professor of Finance and Economics with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

(Dialogue with Allen)

And after a short break, we'll hear from a Chinese expert.

(Promo)

Ni hao, you're listening to  People In the Know, your window into the world around you, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International.  I'm Paul James in Beijing.  In this edition of the show we're talking Sino-US relations to coincide with US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner's two days of meetings with Chinese officials here in Beijing today and tomorrow.  For more on this we're joined on the line now by Professor Tao Wenzhao, Senior Research Fellow with the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

(Dialogue with Tao)

And with that we close out this edition of  People In the Know, online at crienglish.com here on China Radio International. Questions or comments for us can be sent to people@cri.com.cn.  For Executive Director Zhao Yang, Producers Chen Mo and Xu Yang and Intern Chen Jianing, I'm Paul James in Beijing.  We'll talk to you tomorrow.