US Treasury Secretary visits China

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has started a three-day visit to China as a special envoy of President Barack Obama.

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has started a three-day  visit to China as a special envoy of President Barack Obama.

Geithner is expected to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Wang Qishan as well as deliver a speech at Peking University.

The US Treasury says Geithner will also take part in an event to highlight the role that US companies are playing in China's economic development. China's Foreign Ministry says the two sides will exchange views on issues including the financial crisis and bilateral cooperation. Preparations will also be made for the first round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

Meanwhile, an official from the US Treasury says Mr Geithner is expected to discuss the Obama administration's efforts to deal with its record budget deficit, since China is the largest foreign holder of US Treasury securities.