Strategic-economic dialogue to facilitate China-U.S. cooperation

by Xinhua writers Zhao Yi, Liu Lina

WASHINGTON, July 25 (Xinhua) -- The China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) will be held here on Monday and Tuesday, when the two countries will have extensive discussions on issues of common concern to deepen understanding, enhance mutual trust and promote cooperation.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (L2) meets with U.S. Congressmen  in Washington, D.C., on July 26, 2009, the day before the first  round of the China-U.S. Economic and Strategic Dialogue, which is  to be held in Washington, D.C. from July 27 to 28. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan)

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan will co-chair the "Economic Track" of the dialogue with U.S. Treasure Secretary Timothy Geithner, while Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo will co-chair the "Strategic Track" with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The scheduled high-level meeting, the first of its kind between the world's biggest developing country and biggest developed country, is a reincarnation in a broader format of the Strategic Economic Dialogue set up by the two countries in 2006.

The new mechanism was jointly launched by Chinese President Hu Jintao and his American counterpart Barack Obama during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in London on April 1.

"President Obama will address the opening session of the first U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue on Monday July 27," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters early this week.