by Xinhua Writer Xiong Zhengyan

    BEIJING, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- 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 the U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

    The economic strategic dialogue will 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 President Hu Jintao and President George W. Bush.

    The dialogue is the highest-level one among the existing China-U.S. dialogue and consultation mechanisms.

    Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with the U.S. delegation.

    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, the 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.

    "Through the Strategic Economic Dialogue, we can work with China's leaders to help it achieve more environmentally and economically sound growth and constructive engagement with the global energy market," Paulson said.

    Some analysts played down the expectation of the forthcoming dialogue.

    "The significance of the dialogue is not to produce any achievements, but to enhance mutual understanding," said Niu Xinchun, a researcher with China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

    The dialogue will help China and the United States seek the long-term interests they will share, Niu said.