China, United States Begin Economic Dialogue

BEIJING (AFP)--China and the United States began a twice-yearly economic meeting here Thursday, officials said, which was set to be dominated by discussions on how to cope with the global financial turmoil.

The two days of meetings will be led U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who is heading a Cabinet-level delegation, and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, a key economic policy-maker.

Among the top concerns of the United States going into the meeting is whether China will be able to maintain strong economic growth to help the rest of the world.

The "Strategic Economic Dialogue" was launched two years ago and will be the last under the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush.