U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab and Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez will travel to Beijing next week for trade talks with their Chinese counterparts, said a government statement released here on Friday.
They will attend the U.S. China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) in Dec. 11 and the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Dec. 12 and 13, said the statement.
The JCCT, a high-level government-to-government dialogue, seeks to open market opportunities and resolve trade disputes. U.S. Department of Agriculture officials will also participate in the JCCT.
Prior to the JCCT on Monday, or Dec. 10, there will be a conference on innovation as well as various public events and bilateral meetings.
"The JCCT is a particularly important mechanism we have for tackling some of the inevitable challenges and differences of our large and complex bilateral trade relationship," said Ambassador Schwab.
"The American people recognize the benefits of our economic engagement with China but rightly seek more equity and balance in our trade relationship. The Bush Administration will continue to work toward that goal whether through dialogue in for a such as the JCCT or through resolute use of the other tools available to us," she added.
"American businesses, workers, farmers and ranchers are exporting around the world at record rates," said Gutierrez, adding the JCCT provides an "important face-to-face platform" to address concrete market access issues.
Commenced in 1983, this 18th plenary JCCT session will be co-chaired by USTR Schwab and Commerce Secretary Gutierrez on the U.S. side and by Vice Premier Wu Yi on the Chinese side.
Following the JCCT, Schwab and Gutierrez will join the U.S. delegation to the SED in Beijing, led by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson.
The SED, launched by President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao in September 2006, is a forum designed to provide an overarching discussion of ongoing bilateral economic issues, cross-cutting issues and long-term strategic challenges.
Source: Xinhua
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