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Meeting in Beijing could set tone for US-China relations

The United States has named Beijing as the venue for next week's talks with China aimed at thrashing out a final resolution to the diplomatic crisis over a downed US spy plane.

Washington correspondent Agnes Cusack reports the U-S is expected to ask for a full explanation of the incident that resulted in the detention of its 24-member surveillance crew for 11-days.

Now that the crew of the American spy plane is safely home, the Pentagon has blamed China for the mid-air collision that resulted in the death of a Chinese pilot. Defence Secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, who remained silent during the 11-day stand-off with Beijing, said the US plane was flying straight and level when it was struck by the Chinese jet fighter. "IT WAS ON AUTOPILOT, AND IT DID NOT DEVIATE FROM STRAIGHT AND LEVEL PATH, UNTIL IT HAD BEEN HIT BY THE CHINESE FIGHTER AIRCRAFT." ....Chinese officials vigorously dispute the US view and are to meet on Wednesday to discuss US demands for return of the American spy plane. Agnes Cusack, Washington.

14/04/01 14:51:43 | ABC Radio Australia News

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