ANNAPOLIS, Maryland, June 19 (Xinhua): China and the United States reached important agreement on energy and environmental protection as they wrapped up fourth round of strategic economic dialogue (SED), here yesterday.
Both visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and US Secretary of Finance Henry Paulson said at the closing session that they are satisfied with the candid atmosphere and positive results of the two-day meeting.
Wang said a major achievement of the meeting was the expansion of Sino-US energy and environment cooperation.
After the SED talks, the two sides will sign a 10-year cooperation agreement on energy and environmental protection in Washington later Wednesday, which will influence future bilateral economic cooperation and contribute to the sustainable development of the world, he said.
The deal highlights the importance and strategic influence of the SED mechanism, according to Wang.
Paulson also hailed the meeting as a great success with remarkable results.
He said the US-China 10-year cooperation agreement on energy and environmental protection is an important step to advance bilateral cooperation in the area.
Wang and Paulson co-chaired the meeting as special representatives of the leaders of the two countries.
In summing up the meeting's achievements, Wang said there've been thorough and deep discussions between the two sides on the major topics of the SED, and the two nations increased mutual understanding and strategic mutual trust through the process.
He said during the talks, both sides agreed to stick to the principal of free trade and investment facilitation and were committed to improve investment-friendly environment.
Both sides agreed to launch negotiations leading up to a bilateral investment protection agreement and exchanged views on issues of common interests such as the US subprime mortgage loan crisis, global financial turbulence and intellectual property rights, Wang said.
Paulson also applauded the agreement to start talks on bilateral investment pact, saying it is a important step and shows courage from both side.
The two-day discussions focused on financial and macro economic management, developing and protecting human capital, the benefits of trade and open markets, enhancing investment, and advancing joint opportunities for cooperation in energy and environment.
Meanwhile, Sino-Russian cooperation on trade and the economy has expanded in the past decade, said officials and businessmen at a fair in China's northernmost Heilongjiang Province.
The China Harbin Fair for Trade and Economic Cooperation, aiming to boost cooperation between China and Russia, has served as an effective platform to expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation, especially in the border area, said Geniatulin Ravil Faritovich, governor of Zabaykalsky Krai, who has participated in 10 sessions of the annual fair.
This year, Zabaykalsky Krai held a promotion meeting about the fair in the hope of introducing the region's business projects as well as attracting investment.
Many other regions in Russia, especially in the Far East area and Siberia, also held promotional events, including Jewish Autonomous Oblast and Primorskiy. Apart from project promotions and trade negotiations, the two countries also held forums concerning foreign labour service and regional cooperation in an attempt to increase understanding of enterprises from both countries.
