Rice to Visit China's Earthquake-Stricken Chengdu

Children share a drink at a temporary shelter after their school was damaged by the May 12 earthquake in China's Sichuan province.

Washington -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will travel to Chengdu in China's mountainous Sichuan province June 29 to express the condolences of the American people to the survivors of the devastating May 12 earthquake and also will talk with local officials and humanitarian aid organizations working on relief efforts there.

"This has been a very tragic situation for the people of China," says State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey.  "I think the secretary just wants to be able to go look for herself and talk with some of the folks involved in the relief effort ... as a show of sympathy and support for those people that have been affected by this."    (more)

Negotiations for an Investment Treaty with China

United States Launches Negotiations of an Investment Treaty With China

The United States and China agreed to launch negotiations of a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) on June 18 during the fourth meeting of the United States-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.       (more)

U.S.-China Economic Dialogue Ends on Successful Note

The United States and China today concluded the fourth Cabinet-level meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED). President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao established the SED to create a Cabinet-level forum to develop strategies to reach shared long-term objectives while managing short-term challenges in our economic relationship. During the meeting held June 17 and 18, 2008 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, 9 U.S. Cabinet officials and agency heads joined Secretary Paulson for discussions with China’s Vice Premier Wang Qishan and a delegation of 18 Chinese ministers and agency heads.     (more)

U.S. and China Deepen Their Economic Relationship

At the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on June 17 and 18, the United States and China held the fourth Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).  As special representatives of President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao, Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. and Vice Premier Wang Qishan served as co-chairmen of the SED.   (more)

U.S., China to Cooperate on Energy and Environment

At the fourth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue in Annapolis, Maryland, the United States and China signed a Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework that sets goals and lays out concrete next steps. The two countries announced the following four steps in this cooperation.  (more)