WASHINGTON. Nov 10: Secretary of State James Baker's visit to China will give a symbolic boost to its com munist government, but it fon t likely to produce any dramatic return gesture from Beijing, reports AP.

Before his stop in the Chinese capital. Baker is visiting Japan and Korea, two nations disappointed by the abrupt cancellation of President Bush's Asian trip.

Trade also is a major issue confronting Baker in Asia.

Japan and China rank first and second among nations running huge trade surpluses with the United States. Combined, the two account for 85 per cent of the dlrs 40 billion US trade deficit for the first eight months of this year.

The visit, eagerly sought by the Chinese, will draw sharp congressional criticism if Baker falls — as is likely to get any substantive concessions from the Chinese on trade, human rights or arms trade