The fourth round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue is opened in Beijing, capital of China, May 3, 2012. [Xinhua]

The fourth round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) started Thursday morning in Beijing.

Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the opening ceremony of the fourth round of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED).

Hu is scheduled to address the opening ceremony of the annual gathering of high-ranking officials from the two countries.

The dialogue is co-chaired by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo, special representatives of Chinese President Hu Jintao, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, special representatives of U.S. President Barack Obama.

Yesterday, the second China-U.S. Strategic Security Dialogue, under the strategic framework of the fourth China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue, was also held in Beijing, according to a press release issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns co-chaired the dialogue, said the release, which noted that the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on issues of strategic and comprehensive security, deepening mutual understanding.

The two sides agreed to continue to develop the Strategic Security Dialogue mechanism, and let it play a greater role in enhancing bilateral strategic mutual trust.

Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhang Yesui; U.S. Acting Under-secretary of Defense James Miller; and U.S. Commander-in-chief of Pacific Command Samuel J. Locklear attended the event.