China-U.S. Meeting Ends on Positive Note

                                (Photo: U.S. Dept. of State)

 The fifth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialog (S&ED) concluded this week in Washington D.C. The meeting which, has been held annually since 2009, ran from July 10-11. This year’s get-together could be seen as a follow-up to the Obama-Xi summit held last month in California.

 The S&ED has a two-tract structure. This year the Economic Track was co-chaired by China’s Vice Premier Wang Yang, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. The Strategic Track was co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

 A wide range of issues were discussed including:

• Cyber security
• Asia-Pacific cooperation
• Climate change
• Energy security
• Economic cooperation
• Iran
• De-necularization of the Korean peninsula

 The People’s Daily (China) reported on July 12 that Chinese concerns included access for Chinese investors to the U.S. market and less restrictions on hi-tech exports to China. Progress was also reported being made toward the formation of a Bi-Lateral Investment Treaty, (BIT) that would see greater U.S. access to the China market.