China, U.S. to build "strategic trust" at upcoming dialogue

By Yu Zhixiao, Yu Zhongwen

BEIJING, July 25 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States, the world's biggest developing and developed countries, will endeavor to seek consensus and build strategic trust during the first round of their upcoming bilateral strategic and economic dialogue, a Chinese expert said.

The dialogue, which will take place in Washington on Monday and Tuesday, is of great importance and will help boost China-U.S. ties, Jin Canrong, a well-known Chinese scholar on international relations and deputy dean of the International Studies School at Renmin University, told Xinhua.

"Through the dialogue, China and the United States can exchange information, clear up suspicions and boost bilateral ties," he said.

Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and Vice Premier Wang Qishan will be joined during the dialogue by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasure Secretary Timothy Geithner.

U.S. President Barack Obama will address the opening session of the dialogue, and will meet with the Chinese delegation after the sessions end.

A strategic and economic dialogue will be held just after the opening session and a strategic dialogue and an economic dialogue will follow.

Jin said the strategic dialogue is likely to focus on the challenges and opportunities both countries face in bilateral, regional and global affairs. That would include such issues as anti-terrorism and nuclear non-proliferation, Jin said.

During the economic dialogue, Jin said, the two sides were expected to discuss bilateral cooperation on major economic issues, including the global financial crisis and reform of international financial system.

Jin said China probably will ask the United States to protect its investment assets by conducting responsible financial and monetary policies.

The two countries, Jin said, should adopt a positive attitude, seek consensus, broaden their fields of cooperation, and properly handle their differences.

Jin said the bilateral ties have strategic global significance, but are also complex.

"The two sides have many common points as well as differences in safeguarding their respective interests," he said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Obama agreed to establish the "China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogues" mechanism during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Group of Twenty summit on April 1 in London.