SHANGHAI—U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton nudged China for better market access ahead of a key bilateral dialogue between the two powers beginning Monday.
"For trade to work in any economy, for it to produce the benefits we know it can, there must be a level playing field where domestic and international companies can compete freely," Mrs. Clinton said Sunday morning, without mentioning China specifically.
"That's what drives innovation, benefits consumers and ultimately stimulates broad-based and sustainable growth," she said.
Mrs. Clinton spoke at a Shanghai facility of Boeing Co., which she said serves as a model for how U.S. companies can cooperate with Chinese firms to create jobs for both countries. Boeing has a joint-venture with China Eastern Airlines, and China is Boeing's largest market outside the U.S.
"American companies want to compete in China. They want to sell goods made by American workers to Chinese consumers with rising incomes and increasing demand," Mrs. Clinton said. "This is a win-win for our two countries."
Mrs. Clinton will co-lead, along with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, the U.S. delegation to the annual U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. She will be accompanied by 200 American officials, including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
