China calls for equal dialogue with US

China is urging the United States to work for steady trade and economic cooperation as tensions between the two countries mount over a trade surplus and the yuan currency dispute.

The United States' annual trade gap with China fell to just under 230 billion dollars in 2009, down from a record 268 billion in 2008.

A Commerce Ministry official says China is open to discussions with the US over the trade issues and called for a "reasonable and equal" approach to negotiations. Meanwhile, China will send an envoy, Vice Commerce Minister Zhong Shan, to the US from March 24th to the 26th in a bid to ease trade friction.

He Ning, Official of Chinese Ministry of Commerce, said, "Only by depending on economic law can we understand the problem and be able to deal with it. We should put our utmost effort into avoiding politicizing the trade issue and guarantee the stable development of trade ties."