Chinese Vice Premier: Importance of enhancing Sino-U.S. ties

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A high-level Chinese delegation has left for home, after wrapping up the first round in Washington of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue. On Tuesday, Chinese officials were at a dinner banquet, where they said they would enhance Sino-US relations.

Addressing an audience of some 600 Chinese and US officials and business leaders, Vice Premier Wang Qishan highlighted the importance of Sino-US relations.

He said the two countries have no choice but to cooperate.

Wang Qishan said, "In my view, the China-US relationship, the reason it has come so far today is because it has followed the trend of history and has moved in a direction of historical waves and that's what's needed by our two peoples and that serves the common interests of our two peoples."

Also at the banquet, State Councilor Dai Bingguo suggested that the two countries treat each other with a positive attitude while continuing to build mutual trust.

Dai said, "Generally as far as China-U.S. relations are concerned, we need to maintain each other's core interests and maintain the long-term stability of our bilateral relationship."

Both China and the United States say the first round of the SED was "fruitful". It comes as the US tries to claw its way out of the longest recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

The two countries signed a memorandum on climate change, energy and the environment, and pledged their support for free trade.

Both sides also agreed to reduce trade imbalances and maintain stimulus spending until economic recovery is certain.