A high-profile U.S. delegation arrived in Beijing Wednesday afternoon for the landmark China-U.S. strategic economic dialogue, aiming at examining long-term strategic issues in bilateral trade.

The delegation was led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

The economic strategic dialogue is scheduled to be held in the Great Hall of the People from Thursday to Friday.

The meeting is the first under a twice-a-year strategic economic dialogue mechanism, which was launched in the Chinese capital in September.

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and Paulson will co-chair the dialogue as special representatives of Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush.

Paulson said in his bylined article "A Broad Dialogue with China" that the dialogue will focus on "three areas: maintaining sustainable growth without large trade imbalances; continuing to open markets to trade, competition and investment; and improving energy security and the environment."

Among Paulson's delegation are U.S. cabinet secretaries of commerce, labor, energy and health and human services.

The dialogue will also involve Ben Bernanke, chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank, who is paying his first visit to China.

The U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab will also take part in the meetings.

Source: Xinhua