By Xinhua
Beijing : Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday described the just-concluded Sino-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) as “fruitful”.
Wen made the remarks in a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Wen attributed the success of SED to two reasons. The first is the consensus on the product safety issue which is the top concern of the two peoples. The second is that both countries reached accord on bilateral cooperation in energy, environmental protection and other areas which meet the long-term and fundamental interests of the two peoples.
“This has demonstrated that our strategic dialogue is fruitful,” he said.
Wen said he expected to discuss with Paulson strategic issues, including how to solve bilateral trade disputes, strengthen long-range trade cooperation and face up to the opportunities and challenges of the international situation through strategic dialogue.
Paulson earlier on Thursday told reporters the SED with China has been “instructive and constructive.”
“We have had substantive, robust and engaging exchanges on a range of issues important to both our nations including the integrity of trade, balanced growth including financial services, energy security and environmental sustainability, and bilateral investment,” he told a press conference.
During the dialogue, China and the United States agreed to conduct extensive cooperation over a 10-year period to focus on technological innovation, adoption of clean technology and sustainable natural resources.
Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi and Paulson co-chaired the dialogue as special representatives of the two heads of states.
Both sides agreed to convene the fourth SED in Washington of the United States in June next year.