CRI听力：4th Sino-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue Concludes

China and the United States have reached important agreement on energy and environmental protection as they wrapped up fourth round of Strategic Economic Dialogue on Wednesday in Annapolis, Maryland.

As special representatives of the leaders of the two countries, both visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and U.S. 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-U.S. energy and environment cooperation. A 10-year cooperation agreement in this field has been signed right after the talks.

Paulson also hailed the meeting as a great success. He said the U.S.-China 10-year cooperation agreement on energy and environmental protection is an important step to advance bilateral cooperation in the area. (Www.hxen.net)

During the talks, both sides exchanged views on issues of common interests such as the U.S. subprime mortgage loan crisis, global financial turbulence and intellectual property rights.

Both sides agreed to stick to the principal of free trade and investment facilitation and were committed to improve investment-friendly environment. They also agreed to launch negotiations leading up to a bilateral investment protection agreement.