U.S. businesses support new U.S.-China dialogue

Source: Xinhua | 04-02-2009 09:06

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce expressed its "strong support" Wednesday for the announcement that the United States and China would expand high-level dialogue aimed at enhancing ties between the two countries.

Earlier Wednesday, the White House said in a statement after talks between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao in London that the two sides had decided to establish the "U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue."

"We applaud the president for his decision to pursue expanded engagement with China," U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue said in a press release.

"There is no question that the new Strategic and Economic Dialogue will be a critical forum to forge common solutions that can return the global economy to prosperity and address shared geopolitical challenges," Donohue said.

According to the White House statement, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo will chair the "strategic track" while Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan will chair the "economic track" of the dialogue.

The two sides will hold the first round of the dialogue in Washington in mid-year.