US wants dialogue with China on Pakistan: Clinton

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UNITED NATION: United States on Monday asked China to start dialogue on Pakistan.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with her Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi and discussed bilateral among various other important issues.

China's foreign minister urged the United States on Monday to reconsider its decision to upgrade Taiwan's F-16 jet fighter fleet, saying it could harm ties between Washington and Beijing, a US official said.

Chinese Foreign Minister delivered warning to US Secretary of State during a one-hour meeting in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the senior State Department official said.

Clinton told Yang that the United States had "strategic interests" in maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and was obligated by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to supply the self-ruled island sufficient arms for its defense.

Clinton also asked for China's support for a strong UN Security Council resolution on Syria, where a bloody crackdown by President Bashar al-Assad's forces on pro-democracy protesters has sparked international outrage.

China opposes US arms sales to Taiwan on the grounds they would sabotage Beijing's plans for reunification. Washington says it wants Beijing and Taipei to determine their future peacefully. (Reuters)