WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States is seeking a six-month extension of a science and technology agreement with China to allow the country to enter into negotiations with Beijing to “amend and strengthen” the landmark agreement, the State Department said Wednesday.
For more than 40 years, the agreement between the two countries has seen cooperation across a range of scientific and technical fields, a powerful sign that the rivals were able to put aside their differences and work together.
It ends on August 27.
“This six-month short-term extension will keep the agreement in effect while we seek authority to initiate negotiations to amend and strengthen the terms of the STA (Science and Technology Agreement). It does not commit the United States to a longer-term agreement. extension,” a department spokesman told Reuters.
(Reporting by Michael Martina)
