US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will lead a high-level US team next month for the first meeting of the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the US Treasury Department said on Tuesday.

 

Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, US Trade Representative Susan Schwab, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Heath and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, Energy Secretary Sam Bodman and Stephen Johnson, head of the Environmental Protection Agency, will also join in the delegation, said the department in a statement.

 

The discussions, which will take place December 14-15 in Beijing, would cover a range of issues including global growth, China's integration into the world trading system, stable energy markets and cooperation between the two countries on environmental issues, said the statement.

 

The US delegation will also meet with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Wu Yi, it added.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2006)