(Updates with U.S. comments, dinner) By John Ruwitch MANILA, Aug 1 (Reuters) - China defended the "made-in-China" label on the eve of Asia's largest security forum on Wednesday and the United States said it attached great importance to the region despite the absence of its top foreign policy official. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte that Beijing did not want a string of recent health scares connected with its exports blown out of proportion. "We also oppose politicising the issue of Chinese products, and oppose trade protectionism and trade discrimination," Yang was quoted as saying by a foreign ministry spokeswoman. Yang also defended Chinese goods in a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Aso, a Japanese official said. "Over 99 percent of Chinese exports to Japan have cleared inspections since 2004," Yang was quoted as telling Aso. "He repeatedly stressed that China attaches importance to food safety." The official quoted Aso as telling Yang: "In the past there was an image of Japanese exports being cheap and shoddy. It took a long time to secure an image that their prices are high but their qualities are also high. China needs to make serious efforts." The United States stepped up inspections of imports from China after a chemical additive in pet food caused the death of pets there this spring. Since then, poisonous ingredients have been found in Chinese exports of toys, toothpaste and fish, while the deaths of patients in Panama were blamed on improperly labelled Chinese chemicals that were mixed into cough syrup. In a flurry of other meetings, India and the United States discussed their landmark nuclear pact announced last week and countries involved in the six-party talks on North Korea conferred on the way forward. The U.N. resolution to send peacekeepers to Darfur, which was signed on Tuesday, was welcomed by several of the participants. DINNER, BUT NO RICE In the evening, models feted foreign ministers and senior officials from 27 nations at the formal dinner of the annual Association of South East Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum. Waiters served courses in synchronised flourishes to the beat of an orchestra and star local singers performed. China has gained greater prominence at the meetings due to the absence of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who cancelled her visit to go to the Middle East. Negroponte, her deputy, stressed this was not a reflection on the importance Washington attaches to the region. "The United States considers its relations with ASEAN as a critical component of its dealings with East Asia as a whole," he said. "We want to deepen our partnership with you both individually and collectively to help build the better future our people expect and desire." But hopes of revving up progress on North Korea were muted in the absence of Rice, and little beyond positive platitudes about recent progress has so far emerged. Despite expectations of a bilateral meeting between the U.S. and North Korean delegations, Negroponte said nothing was planned. (Additional reporting by Manny Mogato and Teruaki Ueno)
