国内英语新闻:China-U.S. Economic and Strategic Dialogue opens in Washington

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), the first of its kind between the world's biggest developing country and biggest developed country, opened here on Monday.

    On behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao and invited by U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo participated in the opening ceremony in Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C..

    In a congratulatory message to the opening ceremony of the dialogue read by Wang, Chinese President Hu Jintao said that both China and the United States shoulder important responsibilities on a host of major issues concerning peace and development of mankind.

    As two countries with significant influence in the world, China and the United States also enjoy extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation, Hu said.

    China and the United States, in the face of the complex and changing international economic and political situation, should endeavor to expand common ground, reduce differences, enhance mutual trust and strengthen cooperation through the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, he said.

U.S. President Barack Obama (1st L) greets Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (1st R) and State Councilor Dai Bingguo (Rear) before addressing the opening ceremony of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in Washington, the United States, July 27, 2009.

"This serves the common interests of the two sides and will help advance the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between our two countries," said the Chinese leader in the message.

    "It is also of great importance for peace, stability, development and prosperity of the whole world," he added.

    Hu expressed his confidence that "with the concerted efforts of both teams, the S&ED mechanism will keep improving and growing and inject new dynamism and make new contribution to our mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas and to the growth of our positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship."

    Addressing the opening session of the dialogue, President Obama stressed the importance of cooperation between the United States and China,saying that the U.S.-China relationship "will shape the 21st century."

    He hailed the dialogue as an "essential step forward "in advancing a positive and comprehensive relationship between the two countries.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in Washington, the United States, July 27, 2009.

"Our countries have now shared relations for longer than we were estranged. Our people interact in so many ways. And I believe that we are poised to make steady progress on some of the most important issues of our times," he said.

    Obama will meet with the Chinese delegation after the session.

    In her opening remarks, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton extended her warm welcome to the Chinese delegation, noting that the two nations were "laying brick by brick the foundation for a stronger relationship."