Senior US senators launch week-long China trip

HONG KONG (AFP) – Top US Senator Harry Reid and nine fellow lawmakers arrived in Hong Kong Monday to open a week-long visit to China focused on economic issues and human rights, his office said in a statement.

"During meetings with Chinese officials, the group will discuss issues including clean energy, trade issues, currency, foreign policy, and human rights," according to the statement.

Reid, the Democratic senate majority leader, and the other lawmakers was to make site visits of US investments and clean energy projects in Chengdu, Beijing and Xian, his office said.

The delegation included Democratic Senators Dick Durbin, Barbara Boxer, Chuck Schumer, Frank Lautenberg, Jeff Merkley and Michael Bennet as well as Republicans Richard Shelby, Mike Enzi, and Johnny Isakson.