英语文摘：Currency is off limits at G20 summit

BEIJING, June 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Discussions about the yuan-dollar exchange rate will not be on the agenda at the Group of 20 meeting in Canada next week, Chinese officials said on Friday.

Zhang Tao, director of the international department of the People's Bank of China, the nation's central bank, said at a press conference that Chinese leaders will not engage in talks about its currency with other world leaders at the summit.

"China is monitoring the domestic and international economic situations very closely in deciding its own policies, including those regarding the yuan exchange rate mechanism," he said.

The Chinese economy still faces multiple uncertainties, Zhang told reporters.

At the same time, Vice-finance Minister Zhu Guangyao urged countries attending next week's G20 summit in Toronto to take account of each other's concerns.

Beijing is under pressure from Washington to raise the yuan rate to help the United States reduce its large trade deficit with China, and Zhu's comments followed a new bout of China-bashing at a US House of Representatives hearing on Wednesday.

Commenting on Friday's official remarks, the Wall Street Journal website reported that "China appears increasingly unlikely" to move on its currency before the G20 summit - "a prospect that threatens to restart a poisonous cycle of increasing criticism from US lawmakers and increasing defensiveness from Beijing".