AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will visit China for the purpose of "on-the-spot" judgement of its treatment of workers, at the invitation of China's Vice Premier: During a press conference while visiting Washington for trade talks, Wu Yi dismissed the AFL-CIO petition as "completely groundless" and said that trade and economic issues should not be politicized. She said the AFL-CIO "did not have a clear knowledge of the actual situation in China" and invited the union's leaders to her country for "on the spot investigations" and discussions with workers' representatives. In his letter, Sweeney requested that in addition to meeting with Wu Yi and other government officials, the AFL-CIO delegation should be "given the same freedom of movement in China afforded the numerous delegations from China that visit the United States each year." The AFL-CIO offered to travel to China as early as August "We would certainly appreciate any assistance your government can provide, such as helping us to obtain visas," Sweeney told Wu Yi. "We would like the freedom to develop our own itinerary, make our own travel arrangements and bring our own interpreters," he said. Should not be politicized? Come on. As long as some of us want trade and economic policies which protect and advance the livelihood of workers, and others don't, expect a political fight. Should be an interesting visit. They should blog it.