AP - Trying to smooth over recently rocky relations before a visit to Washington, Chinese President Hu Jintao told American officials on Wednesday that he wants to see healthy and stable ties between the two countries.

AFP - Myanmar's junta leader Than Shwe said Wednesday he wanted to bolster ties with China, his regime's main trade partner and diplomatic ally, two months ahead of polls decried in the West as a sham.

Reuters - China and the United States said on Wednesday that their sometimes rocky relationship is sounder after talks in Beijing, with both putting an optimistic face on ties that have been jolted by economic and security tensions.

AP - Diplomatic tensions between China and Japan escalated Wednesday when Beijing called in Japan's ambassador for a second time after a Chinese fishing boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near a chain of disputed islands.