U.S. Relations with the People's Republic of China (2005)

Second Session of U.S.-China Senior Dialogue Begins December 7

Two-day meeting to focus on strategic, long-term bilateral issues

Following is the text of the statement:

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
December 2, 2005
2005/1126

Media Note

Deputy Secretary of State Zoellick to Host Second U.S.-China Senior Dialogue

December 7-8, 2005

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick will host Chinese Executive Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo, at the second session of the U.S-China Senior Dialogue in Washington, D.C. December 7-8. Deputy Secretary Zoellick and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs Josette Shiner will also host a dialogue with the Vice Chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Mr. Zhu Zhixin, on economic policy issues.

The Senior Dialogue provides a forum to discuss strategic, long-term issues in the U.S.-China bilateral relationship, and in global affairs. The dialogue with the NDRC, China's premier economic development agency, covers structural issues including investment, energy policy, sectoral reforms, as well as macroeconomic policy topics.

"Both the United States and China are important stakeholders in the international system of agreements, institutions, and cooperative arrangements. As China's influence grows, it can help support and adapt that system to meet new challenges. I look forward to meeting again with Executive Vice-Minister Dai to advance our discussion of how the United States and China can cooperate in promoting a peaceful and prosperous world," said Zoellick. "We are trying to employ the dialogue to consider the strategic implications of policies in a variety of areas, so as to better guide cooperation but also manage differences."

The Zoellick-Dai Senior Dialogue was initiated following a suggestion from President Hu to President Bush last November at the APEC summit meeting in Chile. The first Senior Dialogue was held in Beijing August 1 - 2.

Following the meetings in Washington, Deputy Secretary Zoellick will host Executive Vice-Minister Dai on a December 9 visit to Hyde Park, N.Y., the home of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the site of the Roosevelt Presidential Library. The visit is designed to highlight the important role played by allied leaders during and after World War II in creating new global political, economic, and security systems.

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