China and the US this morning started their first strategic
economic dialogue, the latest sign of bilateral efforts to boost
their long-term relationship.
Vice Premier Wu Yi and US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
co-chaired the dialogue as the special representatives of President
Hu Jintao and President George W. Bush
respectively.
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"It's conducive to enhancing trust and dispelling suspicion to
strengthen the dialogue between China and the US in the economic
field," Wu said at the outset of the meeting.
She explained the dialogue would focus on the discussion of
global, strategic and long-term macro-economic issues of common
concern.
In her key-note speech titled "China's Development Road," Wu
said, "I hope the dialogue will enable you to have a relatively
comprehensive and systemic perspective of China, a better knowledge
of our country, thus enhancing our mutual understanding and
trust."
Her speech elaborated on China's adherence to peaceful
development, industrialization, reform and opening-up.
The two-day dialogue will be divided into several sessions on
China's development path, balanced progress between urban and rural
areas, sustainable development, trade, investment, energy and
environment issues.
The meetings are the first under a twice-a-year strategic
economic dialogue mechanism launched in Beijing in September.
Wu and Paulson held a 15-minute closed-door session before
things got underway.??
The Chinese delegation includes more than 10 ministers in
finance, development and reform, science, labor, railways,
communications, health, environment and?the central bank as
well as the Chinese ambassador to the US. In Paulson's delegation
are US cabinet secretaries of commerce, labor, energy and health
and human services.
The high-profile US delegation also includes Ben Bernanke,
chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank, who is paying his first
visit to China. The US Trade Representative, Susan Schwab, also
took part in the meetings.
President Hu and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with the US delegation
Friday afternoon.
These meetings are the highest-level yet in the existing
China-US dialogue and consultation mechanism.
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(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2006)
