China and the United States wrapped up their annual trade
negotiations in Washington D.C. Tuesday with consensus reached on a
series of issues.
At the day-long meeting, the two sides agreed that the China-US
High Technology and Strategic Item Trading Working Group will be
established within the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and
Trade (JCCT) framework, officials said at a press conference on
Tuesday.
The two sides also agreed to continue the Informal Steel
Dialogue, to start and strengthen the intellectual property rights
(IPR) protection mechanism, and further enhance cooperation in the
tourism sector.
In addition, China agreed to conditionally resume importing US
beef, while the US said it would lift the ban on imported processed
poultry meat from China.
The 17th JCCT meeting was jointly chaired by Chinese Vice
Premier Wu Yi and US Secretary of Commerce Carlos
Gutierrez and US Trade Representative Robert Portman.
Stressing that economic and trade cooperation is an important
component of Sino-US relations, Wu Yi said that the 17th JCCT
meeting reflected the spirit of "mutual benefit, development and
win-win" and demonstrated the will of both sides to properly solve
problems through equal consultations and to promote the steady
development of China-US economic and trade relations through
strengthened cooperation.
Noting that China has been making efforts to promote the
balanced development of trade between the two countries, the
Chinese vice premier said it needs joint efforts from both sides to
resolve the bilateral trade imbalance.
Wu said relaxing restrictions on exporting high-tech products to
China from the US side will be conducive to achieving a trade
balance between the two countries.
With regard to IPR protection, Wu said it is an important issue
for China, and a series of measures have been taken to address it,
adding that marked progress has been made in this respect.
IPR protection is an international issue. International
cooperation, communication and coordination as well as joint
efforts are needed to address it, Wu said.
The US said economic and trade relations between the two
countries are the most important, and the JCCT has become an
important platform and consultation mechanism for bilateral
economic and trade relations.
Describing the discussions at the 17th JCCT meeting as frank and
constructive, the US said the meeting yielded important results,
which will contribute to the fair, sustained and balanced
development of economic and trade relations between the two
countries.
The US also said it will enhance and promote high-tech trade
between the two sides.
Established in 1983, the JCCT is a government-to-government
consultation mechanism that provides a forum for addressing trade
concerns and pursuing bilateral commercial opportunities.
(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2006)
