5th Round of China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue

Backgrounder: China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (front R) shakes hands with U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson at a signing ceremony on energy and environmental protection cooperation during the fifth China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing, China, Dec. 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official said here on Thursday that China and the United States have reached consensus in five major areas to step up energy and environmental protection cooperation during the on-going fifth round of the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).

    Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the five areas are as follows.

    First, the SED completed preparations to start cooperation in five areas: electricity, clean water, clean transportation, clean air and the conservation of forest and wetland ecosystems, mapping out plans and roadmaps.

    China and the United States signed a 10-year energy and environmental protection cooperation framework in June during the fourth SED held in Washington, with these five areas as initial goals.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (front R) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson attend the signing ceremony on energy and environmental protection cooperation during the fifth China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing, China, Dec. 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Second, both sides agreed that energy efficiency would be the sixth initial goal.

    Third, the SED achieved agreement on a framework document for the green partnership project under the 10-year cooperation framework. It will be formally signed by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson.

    Fourth, institutions including China's NDRC and the China Exim Bank, as well as the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and the Export-Import Bank of the United States, will sign a memorandum of understanding on measures to support the 10-year energy cooperation.

    Fifth, seven eco-partnerships from the two countries will sign letters of intent on cooperation. These agreements include one involving China's southwestern Chongqing Municipality, the U.S. city of Denver and car maker Ford on an electric and hybrid automobile project.

    The two-day SED, which is to end on Friday, also covers macro-economic risks, trade challenges and the investment environment.

China, U.S. agree on pushing foward with Doha trade round this year


    BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Commerce Minister Chen Deming said on Thursday that China and the United States agreed to push forward on completion of the Doha trade round by the end of December.

    "China expressed willingness to show its good faith and flexibility in the next phase of the Doha round negotiations and hoped the U.S. side will do the same," Chen said at a news briefing on the fifth China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue.

China expresses bilateral trade concerns to U.S. in economic dialogue 


    BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- China expressed concerns on four aspects of bilateral trade to the United States during the fifth Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED), Minister of Commerce Chen Deming said here on Thursday.

    The four aspects were free trade in textiles, the expansion of high-tech trade, China's market economy status, and how both countries could work against misuse or abuse of remedy measures or protectionist measures such as anti-dumping or countervailing measures.

China urges U.S. to evaluate financial crisis policy efficiency 


    BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- China's central bank governor, Zhou Xiaochuan, on Thursday urged the United States to constantly evaluate the efficiency of measures for coping with the financial crisis.

    The United States should give full consideration to the possible impact of its measures on the global economy, Zhou said in a speech here to the fifth China-U.S. strategic economic dialogue (SED).

China urges progress in investment protection pact with U.S.


    BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- China hopes to join with the United States to "actively promote" negotiation for a bilateral investment protection accord, said Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan here Thursday.

    Wang made the remarks when addressing the opening morning of the fifth China-U.S. strategic economic dialogue (SED). He said strengthening bilateral investment protection would help establish a fairer, more transparent and predictable environment for mutual investment.