Geithner, on trip to Beijing, says US wants to develop closing working relationship with China

Geithner says US wants closer ties with China

BEIJING — U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says he wants to develop the same kind of close working relationship with China that the U.S. long has enjoyed with major European economic powers.

Geithner arrived in Beijing on Sunday for his first visit as treasury secretary. He said the U.S. was committed to strengthening ties with China.

China and the U.S. have often found themselves in tense trade disputes over the past decade.

Geithner told reporters traveling with him that the Obama administration wants China to have a bigger voice in global economic institutions such as the International Monetary Fund.