Top U.S. and Chinese officials opened annual trade talks in Washington on Tuesday. Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, heading a delegation of about 100 officials, met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and was scheduled to hold talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Beijing hoped the "two sides will have an exchange of views on trade, investment, agriculture-products quarantine, technological standards, intellectual-property rights, and bilateral cooperation in other areas in an in-depth manner." "As for trade differences between China and the U.S., we always hold that the two should solve relevant issues through candid dialogue and through consultations through normal channels," Jiang said.
