Sino-U.S. strategic and economic dialogues to merge

Source: China Daily | 04-04-2009 17:07

BEIJING, April 4 -- Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner met in London on Thursday after the conclusion of the G20 summit to further confirm the establishment of a "double-track" Strategic and Economic Dialogue mechanism (SAED) between China and the US, following up on an announcement made when Chinese President Hu Jintao met US President Barack Obama on Wednesday, prior to the G20 summit.

The dialogue will "focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities that both countries face on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global areas of immediate and long-term strategic interest", a White House statement said earlier.

The Strategic Dialogue mechanism, also known as "Senior Dialogue", is presented by the top level to discuss strategic issues such as military, anti-terrorism and climate change, while the Strategic Economic Dialogue, initiated in 2006, mainly serves as a bridge in bilateral economic relations and resolving trade disputes.

Chen Fengying, with the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said the US-China "cooperation could help stop splits forming between leading and emerging economies".

Meanwhile, China called on the international community to resist protectionism, warning that new trade barriers may cause current stimulus plans to fail.

"In order not to hamper the world's confidence (in economic recovery), all countries should refrain from exercising trade protection measures allowed within the framework of the WTO," Chen Deming, China's commerce minister, said at a press conference on Thursday.