(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-04 20:27

China would like to work closely with the United States in preparation for the upcoming Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED), and strive for positive progress out of the dialogue, said a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Tuesday.

Spokesman Qin Gang said: "To set up the SED mechanism is an important consensus reached by the two state leaders, and it has played an increasingly important role in strengthening bilateral ties."

Regarding SED as an important mechanism and platform for bilateral cooperation, the US side has spoke highly and positively of the dialogue, he told a press conference.

The third China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue will be held in Beijing on December 12-13. Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will co-chair the meeting as special representatives of state leaders of the two countries.

Ministers and other senior officials from related departments of the two governments will also attend the dialogue.

The dialogue was launched by President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao in September 2006, serving as a platform to discuss long-term, strategic and comprehensive issues in the bilateral trade relationship.