China-US annual dialogue, consultation open in Beijing

The sixth round of China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the fifth round of High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange began in Beijing on Wednesday, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.
This year's strategic economic dialogue covers a wide range of topics of domestic and foreign policy, including climate change, science and innovation, Sudan and South Sudan, UN peacekeeping and the illegal trade in animals and plants, as well as interactions in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the report.
The two-day strategic economic meeting will also address issues of the macro economy, trade and investment cooperation and transnational regulations.
The annual meeting is co-chaired by Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, as well as U Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew.
Meanwhile, the consultation talks focus on closer links between the two countries' youth, with highlights including a school cooperation program and a commemoration of the 35th anniversary of the exchange of students, the report said.
At a joint opening ceremony of the two meetings, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech that problems in China-US relations are not to be afraid of as long as both sides work to solve them.
"Building a new model of major-country relationship between China and the United States is unprecedented in history. There is no ready-made experience from which to learn," Xi was quoted as saying.
Xi called on both sides to keep up with the times in developing bilateral relations.
China and the United States have overcome difficulties and continued to progress in the past 35 years, thanks to the leaderships' understanding of contemporary conditions, he said.
"Today, our two countries should better observe the times and think creatively to open new prospects in bilateral cooperation," the president added.