Tourists wait to board Shanghai's magnetic levitation train to Pudong airport, September 2006. US President George W. Bush cleared the way for a private sector sale to China of high-tech products linked to its railway system and its testing of parts for Boeing aircraft. [AFP]

Washington - US President George W. Bush cleared the way for a private sector sale to China of high-tech products linked to the country's railway system and testing of parts for Boeing aircraft.

In a legally required ruling, Bush certified that the sale "is not detrimental to the US space launch industry" and "will not measurably improve the missile or space launch capabilities of the People's Republic of China."

The move clears the way for the sale of 20 Honeywell accelerometers to be incorporated into railway geometry measurement systems for China's Ministry of Railways; and equipment and technology associated with the production and testing of composite components for Boeing commercial aircraft.

The US Departments of State, Commerce, Defense and Energy reviewed the proposed sales under a US law that requires a presidential certification to Congress with regard to exports of certain dual-use items to China.

They found that these exports do not pose a threat to US national security or the US space launch industry and will not provide a direct or indirect benefit that improves measurably China's missile, space missile launch, or anti-satellite capabilities, a White House official said.