Geithner to visit China and Japan next week (by Greg Robb)

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will visit China and Japan next week to discuss global economic developments, the Treasury Department announced Wednesday. Geithner will first travel to in Beijing on January 10 for two days of talks with senior Chinese government officials including Premier Wen Jiabao. Many economists argue that a faster pace of Chinese economic reforms, including a stronger currency, would help improve the U.S. economic outlook. Geithner will then move to Tokyo on January 12 for talks with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and other top officials. Late last month, the Treasury issued a report that criticized Japan's efforts to weaken the value of its currency. Treasury said that Geithner will also ask China and Japan to increase pressure on Iran, including financial measures targeting the Iranian central bank.