China and the United States said Thursday they would not stage any new trade protection measures against each other, a significant step which lays the groundwork for the presidential summit next month.

Delegates attending the 20th China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) pose for a group photo in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 29, 2009. China and the United States on Thursday started their annual trade talks in Hangzhou. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan co-chaired the meeting with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Trade Representative Ron Kirk of the United States. The JCCT began in 1983 as a platform for both countries to promote trade and address issues of mutual concern. [Wang Dingchang/Xinhua]

"Both sides agreed on not introducing any new trade protection measures against each other as both vowed to oppose trade and investment protectionism and observe the related consensus of the G20 summit," Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming said Thursday.

Chen made the remarks at the end of the 20th China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) talks in China's eastern city of Hangzhou.

The comments also came at a time of increasing China-US trade disputes in the past months, involving Chinese tires, cement products, US poultry and others.

"The pledge is significant as it shows both countries' determination to dump punitive measures against each other and instead seek common prosperity," Niu Xinchun, a research fellow with China Contemporary International Studies Institute, told Xinhua.

"As influential powers, China and the United States should stand firmly against all types of trade protectionism, promote both countries' economies and help lift the world out of recession," Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan told the opening session of the JCCT Thursday noon.

Wang co-chaired the 20th JCCT talks with US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and US Trade Representative Ron Kirk in a lakeside garden compound in the capital of east China's Zhejiang province.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (C), Gary Locke (2nd L), Commerce Secretary of the United States, Ron Kirk (2nd R), Trade Representative of the United States, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack (1st L), and US ambassador to China Jon Huntsman pose for a group photo before the small-scale talks of the 20th China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 29, 2009.[Wang Dingchang/Xinhua]

Locke highlighted the significance of this year's talks, saying it is the first JCCT meeting of President Obama's administration and comes a few weeks ahead of President Obama's first visit to China.