US - China Relations
A new era of strengthened US - China relations starts.
A new era of strengthened US - China relations starts.
"Obama, Xi Unveil Commitments to Curb Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Avert Military Confrontations
China and the U.S. struck new climate, military, trade and visa agreements during a marathon two days of talks, as presidents Barack Obama and Xi Jinping made significant strides in improving an often-tense relationship.
In an unexpected move, the two leaders on Wednesday unveiled substantial new commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with China agreeing for the first time to stop increases in carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030 or earlier, U.S. officials said.
Messrs. Xi and Obama also reached two new agreements designed to avert military confrontations in Asia, one on notifying each other of major activities, such as military exercises, and the other on rules of behavior for encounters at sea and in the air.
Shortly before the summit, the two sides completed deals to issue 10-year tourist and business visas and to drop tariffs on semiconductors and other information-technology products, which backers say could cover $1 trillion in trade.
“Our relations are now standing at a new historical point,” Mr. Xi said at their meeting on Wednesday, calling their cooperation a “new model” for relations. “I’m ready to work with you in this direction.”
“There are important differences that we have both practically as well as our vision for our respective countries and our conduct in foreign policy,” Mr. Obama said, but he added that they try to work together when they can.
The Chinese leader said the two sides had agreed to speed talks on a new pact to open up investment between the two, known as the Bilateral Investment Treaty.
The two countries “will make efforts to reach agreement on the core issues and major articles of the treaty text,” Mr. Xi said, adding that they plan talks on some details next year.
In another unexpected move, Mr. Xi took questions at a news conference following the summit.
China, which is still seeing quick industrial growth, set its sights lower, agreeing to stop its increases in carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030 or earlier, with fossil fuels falling to some 80% of Chinese energy use by then, U.S. officials said."
"Agreement Between U.S. and China Clears Hurdle to Removing Tech Tariffs Globally
Microsoft Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co. and Apple Inc. are likely to be some of the big beneficiaries if a deal reached between China and the U.S. leads to slashed tariffs on a range of technology products around the world, including videogame consoles, advanced chips and prepaid cards."
- U.S., China Agree to Curb Greenhouse-Gas Emissions (WSJ)
- U.S., China to Drop Tariffs on Range of Tech Products. Agreement to Expand Pact Could Cover $1 Trillion in Trade (WSJ)
- Fact Sheet: U.S.-China Climate Agreement (WSJ)
A portrait of the life of President Xi Jinping
[Personal Note (repeated): President Xi Jinping loves me!]
US - Iran Relations
Veteran Affairs
The End of the Military-Industrial Complex. How the Pentagon Is Adapting to Globalization (Foreign Affairs)
Politics
Latino / Hispanics
"One quarter of Hispanics in the U.S. lack health insurance, the highest rate for any racial or ethnic group, according to census data. Reducing that number will be one of the Obama administration’s biggest challenges when it reopens health-insurance exchanges for a second year on Saturday.
Latinos and other Americans who lack insurance typically turn to community health centers that cater to the uninsured and emergency rooms, or they forego treatment altogether. Government funding and hospital charity care programs absorb those costs.
In Florida’s Miami-Dade County—where 66% of the population is Hispanic and 33% is uninsured, the highest rate in the state—groups like the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida are training navigators and teaming up with hospitals and Spanish-language outlets to reach Latinos. The Borinquen clinic is hosting its annual health-care festival, which typically draws more than 2,000 people, a week into the new enrollment period."
Business & Economy
- Cisco Systems Shows Signs of Sales Growth (WSJ)
- Why Ford Won't Lose its Shirt Building The Pricey New Aluminum F-150 Pickup (Forbes)
- General Motors Co. President Dan Ammann is leading a push to change how the century-old Detroit auto maker sells and produces cars around the world (WSJ)
- Robotic Legs for the Disabled. Parker Hannifin Pushes Into Medical Devices (WSJ)
- Female CEOs Make Room for Female Directors (WSJ)
"GM, DuPont and IBM Are Some of the Biggest Women-Led Businesses With Three or More Women Directors"
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