Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan began talks with US Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson in Beijing Wednesday morning, exchanging views on advancing the process of China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) and bilateral economic ties.
Chinese President Hu Jintao's special representative and Vice Premier Wang Qishan (R) meets with Henry M. Paulson (L), special representative of US President George W. Bush and the US Treasury Secretary, in Beijing, China, April 2, 2008. Paulson arrived in Beijing on Wednesday to start his two-day China trip for preparations for the fourth round of China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED). [Xinhua]
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During the talks held in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Wang said Paulson is here for a visit soon after China's government was reshuffled and this showed he attached the great importance to the China-US relations and the SED.
China and the United States have reached much consensus since the establishment of the SED, which made great contribution to the development of the mutual trust and the steady growth of bilateral relations, Wang said.
He said it is his first time to talk with Paulson after taking office and as the special representative of President Hu Jintao, adding he is willing to have "an in-depth exchange of views" with Paulson, who is also special representative of US President George W. Bush.
Paulson said he looked forward to working closely with Wang on the preparations for new round of SED.
Paulson, who arrived in Beijing earlier Wednesday morning for a two-day visit, is scheduled to meet President Hu, Premier Wen Jiabao and other senior officials.
China and the United States had agreed to hold their fourth round of the SED at Washington in June this year. Wang and Paulson are expected to jointly preside over the dialogue.