Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday described the
just-concluded Sino-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) as
"fruitful".
Wen made the remarks in a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary
Henry Paulson in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Wen attributed the success of SED to the consensus on the
product safety issue, which was the top concern of the two peoples,
and to the fact that both countries reached accord on bilateral
cooperation in energy, environmental protection and other areas
that meet the long-term and fundamental interests of the two
peoples.
"This has demonstrated that our strategic dialogue is fruitful,"
he said.
Wen said he expected to discuss with Paulson strategic issues,
including how to solve bilateral trade disputes, strengthen
long-range trade cooperation and face up to the opportunities and
challenges of the international situation through strategic
dialogue.
China attached importance to the trade imbalance with the United
States, Wen said, adding it had taken a series of positive measures
to reduce the trade surplus.
"We also hope the U.S. side will attach importance to our
concerns, formulate open policies of trade and investment, lift
limitations on China's exports and provide a fair environment for
Chinese companies to invest in the United States," the premier
said.
Concerning the divergencies and frictions in China-U.S. trade,
Wen called on both sides to eye on general situation from a
long-term perspective, and properly settle disputes through
dialogue and consultation and according to economic law.
China will stick to its reform and opening-up, and continue to
adjust economic structure and transform development mode, which
would offer more opportunities for countries including the United
States to carry out economic cooperation with China, Wen said.
The premier urged the two countries to make best use of the SED
mechanism, continue to enhance strategic trust and make joint
efforts to push forward mutual-beneficial bilateral trade.
Paulson said the SED with China had been "instructive". It
helped to enhance understanding and build trust, which was very
important to settle "sensitive" and "complicated" issues between
the two countries.
The United States is to work closely with China to build
long-term stable trade ties, he added.
An economically developed China was in the interests of the
United States, Paulson said, adding his country could see no
advantage without China's economic growth.
Premier Wen believed the interests of the two countries are even
more intertwined and interdependent against the backdrop of
economic globalization. The smooth development of China-U.S. trade
relations not only benefits the two peoples but also contributes to
global economic development, he said.
He called on both countries to beef up mutual-beneficial
cooperation and promote the balanced and beneficial development of
economic globalization.
Later on Thursday, Chinese President Hu Jintao also met with Paulson and his
delegation. Paulson told Hu that "we are building trust" between
the two countries.
"There is comfort between our communication, which makes it
easier to deal with our conflicts and difficulties," Paulson
said.
Earlier on Thursday, Paulson told reporters the SED with China
had been "instructive and constructive."
During the dialogue, China and the United States agreed to
conduct extensive cooperation over a 10-year period to focus on
technological innovation, adoption of clean technology and
sustainable natural resources.
Thirty-one agreements were reached in financial services, food
safety and product quality, environment and energy, transparency,
investment, China's market economy status, balanced growth and
innovation.
Among the deals, China promised to allow qualified
foreign-invested companies, including banks, to issue RMB
denominated stocks, qualified listed companies to issue RMB
denominated corporate bonds, and qualified incorporated foreign
banks to issue RMB denominated financial bonds.
Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Paulson co-chaired the dialogue as
special representatives of the two heads of state.
They agreed to convene the fourth SED in Washington in June next
year.
(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2007)
