U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
Encyclopedia
The U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) is a high-level dialogue for the United States
and China
to discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and global political, strategic, security, and economic issues between both countries. The establishment of the S&ED was announced on April 1, 2009 by U.S. President Barack Obama
and Chinese President Hu Jintao
. The upgraded mechanism replaced the former Senior Dialogue
and Strategic Economic Dialogue started under the George W. Bush administration
. The format is such that high-level representatives of both countries and their delegations will meet annually at capitals alternating between the two countries.
The S&ED has both a "Strategic Track" and an "Economic Track". U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo
co-chair the "Strategic Track". U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan
co-chair the "Economic Track".
at the G-20 summit
by President Barack Obama
and President Hu Jintao
during their first meeting. The upgraded mechanism replaced the former Senior Dialogue
and Strategic Economic Dialogue started under the George W. Bush administration. High-level representatives of both countries and their delegations meet annually at capitals alternating between the two countries. The first meeting was held in Washington, D.C.
on July 27–28, 2009.
It has been suggested by analysts and media that the S&ED constitutes an important part of the G-2
relationship between the United States and China. Experts say that it can promote political trust, constructive engagement, and collaboration between the two countries.
of the U.S. and President Hu Jintao
of China have placed the S&ED at the center of the bilateral relationship
and are committed to delivering concrete, meaningful, and sustained progress over time on long-term strategic and economic objectives through the S&ED. The 2009 Dialogue will provide an opportunity to establish a framework for those discussions moving forward.
Economic Track
Vice Premier Wang Qishan
held talks with Congressmen Rick Larsen
and Mark Kirk
, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
and Justin Yifu Lin
, chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank, on July 26, 2009 prior to the S&ED. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted a dinner on July 26, 2009 for Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo
. In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal
, Clinton and Timothy Geithner wrote about the U.S.–China relationship and the new S&ED. They added, "Simply put, few global problems can be solved by the U.S. or China alone. And few can be solved without the U.S. and China together", citing the "strength of the global economy, the health of the global environment, the stability of fragile states and the solution to nonproliferation challenges" as aspects that both countries have to cooperate on.
Hillary Clinton, Wang Qishan, Timothy Geithner, Dai Bingguo
and President Obama addressed the opening ceremony of the first S&ED on July 27, 2009. President Hu sent a congratulatory message read out by Wang. Obama said in his speech, "The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world. That really must underpin our partnership. That is the responsibility that together we bear." The opening ceremony of the first Dialogue was held in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
The agenda included the global economic interest, North Korean nuclear weapons production and proliferation, climate change, and overseas development assistance. Chinese participants met with and were addressed by President Barack Obama and spent some time on Capitol Hill meeting with members. They also met with Vice President Joe Biden
. China brought more than 150 senior officials, including 28 minister-level officials and nearly its whole Cabinet
, one of the largest and highest-level official Chinese delegations ever to come to the U.S. Chinese central banker Zhou Xiaochuan
, Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren
, the Chinese head of the banking regulatory commission, Liu Mingkang
, and the head of securities regulatory commission, Shang Fulin
, participated in the dialogue. China's Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya
also participated.
A legion of prominent personages took part on the U.S. side. For example, for climate change, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu
, science adviser John Holdren
, Carol Browner, Lisa Jackson
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others participated for the U.S. For the Chinese side, Vice-Minister Zhang Guobao
of the powerful National Development and Reform Commission
(NDRC) spoke on energy issues and NDRC Vice-Minister Xie Zhenhua
talked about the substantial steps that China is taking to limit CO2 emissions.
In an effort to reassure the Chinese about their investment, Obama rolled out top officials to meet with Chinese representatives including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
, National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers
and Peter Orszag
, Obama's budget director, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
among others. Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke briefed Chinese officials about how the U.S. plans to keep inflation in check over the next few years. U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice also participated in the Dialogue. The New York Times
reported how 200 Chinese bankers, bureaucrats and policymakers scrutinized Obama's economic strategy and commented "how much the global financial crisis has changed the subtle balance of power in meetings of 'the G2
'".
The U.S. and China also announced a resumption of routine military contacts and high-level visits by defense officials when Admiral Timothy Keating met with his Chinese counterpart during the dialogue.
On July 29, Wang Qishan met with Ben Bernanke and exchanged views on bilateral issues and other issues of mutual concern. Dai Bingguo had breakfast with a group of U.S. senators including Senator John Kerry
and Senator Richard Lugar on Capitol Hill.
Climate change
, clean energy, and the environment
were also discussed in separate special sessions.
Key highlights from the Strategic Track include:
Climate Change, Energy, and Environment MOU,
North Korea
,
South Asia
,
Sudan
,
Counter-Terrorism
,
Non-proliferation,
Military-to-Military Relations,
Human Rights
,
Energy Security
, and
Global Issues.
from each side to meet face-to-face and to discuss a range of substantive issues.
On the U.S. side, they were joined by the following Cabinet members and other senior officials:
On the Chinese side, they were joined by the following Ministers and other senior officials:
. Chinese President Hu Jintao
gave a speech on the opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the People
. The dialogue was co-chaired by Hillary Clinton, Timothy Geithner, Wang Qishan
and Dai Bingguo
.
Before the dialogue, Hillary Clinton wrote an op-ed in the Global Times
. Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren
wrote a piece in the Washington Post.
U.S. Participants:
Chinese Participants:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
to discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and global political, strategic, security, and economic issues between both countries. The establishment of the S&ED was announced on April 1, 2009 by U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and Chinese President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
. The upgraded mechanism replaced the former Senior Dialogue
Senior Dialogue
The U.S.-China Senior Dialogue was a regular, high-level strategic dialogue between the United States and the People's Republic of China...
and Strategic Economic Dialogue started under the George W. Bush administration
George W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
. The format is such that high-level representatives of both countries and their delegations will meet annually at capitals alternating between the two countries.
The S&ED has both a "Strategic Track" and an "Economic Track". U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo is a Chinese politician and professional diplomat. Since 2008, Dai has emerged as one of the foremost and highest-ranking figures of Chinese foreign policy in the Hu Jintao administration....
co-chair the "Strategic Track". U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan is a politician in the People's Republic of China who currently serves as the Vice-Premier in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs under premier Wen Jiabao. Previously Wang served in regional positions in Hainan and Beijing...
co-chair the "Economic Track".
History
The creation of the S&ED was announced on April 1, 2009 in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
at the G-20 summit
2009 G-20 London summit
The 2009 G-20 London Summit is the second meeting of the G-20 heads of state in discussion of financial markets and the world economy, which was held in London on 2 April 2009 at the ExCeL Exhibition Centre. It followed the first G-20 Leaders Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, which...
by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
during their first meeting. The upgraded mechanism replaced the former Senior Dialogue
Senior Dialogue
The U.S.-China Senior Dialogue was a regular, high-level strategic dialogue between the United States and the People's Republic of China...
and Strategic Economic Dialogue started under the George W. Bush administration. High-level representatives of both countries and their delegations meet annually at capitals alternating between the two countries. The first meeting was held in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on July 27–28, 2009.
It has been suggested by analysts and media that the S&ED constitutes an important part of the G-2
Group of Two
The Group of Two is a proposed informal special relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Originally initiated by C...
relationship between the United States and China. Experts say that it can promote political trust, constructive engagement, and collaboration between the two countries.
Purpose
The S&ED is an ongoing and intensive mechanism for addressing the challenges and opportunities that the United States and China face on a wide range of bilateral, regional, and global areas of immediate and long-term strategic and economic interest. Both President Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
of the U.S. and President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
of China have placed the S&ED at the center of the bilateral relationship
Sino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
and are committed to delivering concrete, meaningful, and sustained progress over time on long-term strategic and economic objectives through the S&ED. The 2009 Dialogue will provide an opportunity to establish a framework for those discussions moving forward.
Structure
The S&ED is organized around a high-level, cross-cutting structure that addresses the geopolitical nature of mutual concerns in strategic and economic discussions. The S&ED provides a forum for ongoing and productive bilateral engagement between U.S. and Chinese officials with diverse responsibilities for both economic and strategic issues. The structure of the S&ED allows for a plenary session to discuss issues of cross-cutting strategic and economic importance, while maintaining distinct strategic and economic tracks. Each respective track will involve focused discussions on issues of mutual immediate and long-term strategic or economic interest. The S&ED will meet semi-annually to facilitate robust engagement and progress between dialogues through coordination with existing bilateral dialogues and working-level interactions.Participants
The S&ED brings together senior leadership representing the U.S. and Chinese governments. Special representatives are appointed by Presidents of both countries. Various other U.S. Cabinet and sub-Cabinet officials and heads of Chinese ministries, bureaus and commissions will participate in the Dialogue depending on the issues being discussed.Special representatives
Strategic Track- United States Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of StateThe United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
: Hillary Clinton - State Councilor of the People's Republic of China: Dai BingguoDai BingguoDai Bingguo is a Chinese politician and professional diplomat. Since 2008, Dai has emerged as one of the foremost and highest-ranking figures of Chinese foreign policy in the Hu Jintao administration....
Economic Track
- United States Secretary of the TreasuryUnited States Secretary of the TreasuryThe Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United...
: Timothy Geithner - Vice Premier of the People's Republic of ChinaVice Premier of the People's Republic of ChinaThe Vice Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China is a high-ranking executive assistant to the Premier. There is a First-ranking Vice Premier , sometimes called Executive Vice Premier wrongly by the non-official media. It is an informal title and takes over duties of the...
: Wang QishanWang QishanWang Qishan is a politician in the People's Republic of China who currently serves as the Vice-Premier in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs under premier Wen Jiabao. Previously Wang served in regional positions in Hainan and Beijing...
First round meetings
The meetings for the first round of the dialogue took place July 27–28, 2009 in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Vice Premier Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan is a politician in the People's Republic of China who currently serves as the Vice-Premier in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs under premier Wen Jiabao. Previously Wang served in regional positions in Hainan and Beijing...
held talks with Congressmen Rick Larsen
Rick Larsen
Richard Ray "Rick" Larsen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
and Mark Kirk
Mark Kirk
Mark Steven Kirk is the junior United States Senator from Illinois and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, Kirk was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Illinois's 10th congressional district....
, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson
Henry Paulson
Henry Merritt "Hank" Paulson, Jr. is an American banker who served as the 74th United States Secretary of the Treasury. He previously served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs.-Early life and family:...
and Justin Yifu Lin
Justin Yifu Lin
Justin Yifu Lin , born as Zhengyi Lin, on October 15, 1952, in Yilan, Taiwan, is a Chinese economist and Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank.-Career and education:...
, chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank, on July 26, 2009 prior to the S&ED. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hosted a dinner on July 26, 2009 for Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo is a Chinese politician and professional diplomat. Since 2008, Dai has emerged as one of the foremost and highest-ranking figures of Chinese foreign policy in the Hu Jintao administration....
. In an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
, Clinton and Timothy Geithner wrote about the U.S.–China relationship and the new S&ED. They added, "Simply put, few global problems can be solved by the U.S. or China alone. And few can be solved without the U.S. and China together", citing the "strength of the global economy, the health of the global environment, the stability of fragile states and the solution to nonproliferation challenges" as aspects that both countries have to cooperate on.
Hillary Clinton, Wang Qishan, Timothy Geithner, Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo is a Chinese politician and professional diplomat. Since 2008, Dai has emerged as one of the foremost and highest-ranking figures of Chinese foreign policy in the Hu Jintao administration....
and President Obama addressed the opening ceremony of the first S&ED on July 27, 2009. President Hu sent a congratulatory message read out by Wang. Obama said in his speech, "The relationship between the United States and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world. That really must underpin our partnership. That is the responsibility that together we bear." The opening ceremony of the first Dialogue was held in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
The agenda included the global economic interest, North Korean nuclear weapons production and proliferation, climate change, and overseas development assistance. Chinese participants met with and were addressed by President Barack Obama and spent some time on Capitol Hill meeting with members. They also met with Vice President Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
. China brought more than 150 senior officials, including 28 minister-level officials and nearly its whole Cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
, one of the largest and highest-level official Chinese delegations ever to come to the U.S. Chinese central banker Zhou Xiaochuan
Zhou Xiaochuan
Zhou Xiaochuan is a Chinese economist, banker, reformist and bureaucrat. As governor of the People's Bank of China since December 2002, he has been in charge of the monetary policy of the People's Republic of China....
, Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren
Xie Xuren
Xie Xuren , is the current Minister of Finance of People's Republic of China, and former Director-General of the State Administration of Taxation. He's also a member of the 17th CPC Central Committee.-Biography:...
, the Chinese head of the banking regulatory commission, Liu Mingkang
Liu Mingkang
Liu Mingkang graduated from the University of London in 1987. In 1988 he received an MBA from the Cass Business School. He served as chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission from its creation in 2003 until he reached the retirement age of 65...
, and the head of securities regulatory commission, Shang Fulin
Shang Fulin
Shang Fulin is a politician of the People's Republic of China. He served as president of the China Securities Regulatory Commission until October, 2011, when he was appointed to lead the China Banking Regulatory Commission.- Biography :...
, participated in the dialogue. China's Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya
Wang Guangya
Wang Guangya , born March 1950 in Jiangsu Province People's Republic of China, is a Chinese diplomat who is currently Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. A career diplomat, Wang was previously Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs...
also participated.
A legion of prominent personages took part on the U.S. side. For example, for climate change, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu
Steven Chu
Steven Chu is an American physicist and the 12th United States Secretary of Energy. Chu is known for his research at Bell Labs in cooling and trapping of atoms with laser light, which won him the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997, along with his scientific colleagues Claude Cohen-Tannoudji and...
, science adviser John Holdren
John Holdren
John Paul Holdren is advisor to President Barack Obama for Science and Technology, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and Co-Chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology...
, Carol Browner, Lisa Jackson
Lisa P. Jackson
Lisa Perez Jackson is an American chemical engineer currently serving as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency . Previously, she worked at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for 6 years, first as an assistant commissioner and later as commissioner...
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others participated for the U.S. For the Chinese side, Vice-Minister Zhang Guobao
Zhang Guobao
Zhang Guobao is Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.-Biography:Zhang Guobao was born in Zhejiang. He graduated from Xi'an Jiaotong University with a mechanical engineering degree and became a senior engineer...
of the powerful National Development and Reform Commission
National Development and Reform Commission
The National Development and Reform Commission , formerly State Planning Commission and State Development Planning Commission, is a macroeconomic management agency under the Chinese State Council, which has broad administrative and planning control over the Chinese economy...
(NDRC) spoke on energy issues and NDRC Vice-Minister Xie Zhenhua
Xie Zhenhua
Xie Zhenhua is Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.-Biography:Xie Zhenhua was born in Tianjin. He graduated from the of Tsinghua University with an Engineering Physics degree...
talked about the substantial steps that China is taking to limit CO2 emissions.
In an effort to reassure the Chinese about their investment, Obama rolled out top officials to meet with Chinese representatives including Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke
Ben Bernanke
Ben Shalom Bernanke is an American economist, and the current Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States. During his tenure as Chairman, Bernanke has overseen the response of the Federal Reserve to late-2000s financial crisis....
, National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Summers
Lawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
and Peter Orszag
Peter Ország
Peter Ország is a Slovak ice hockey referee, who referees in the Slovak Extraliga.-Career:He has officiated many international tournaments including the Winter Olympics. He has been named Slovak referee of the year....
, Obama's budget director, and U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk
Ron Kirk
Ronald "Ron" Kirk is the 16th United States Trade Representative, serving in the Obama administration. He served as mayor of Dallas, Texas from 1995 to 2002; he also ran for the United States Senate in 2002.-Early life and career:...
among others. Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke briefed Chinese officials about how the U.S. plans to keep inflation in check over the next few years. U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
Hilda Solis
Hilda Lucia Solis is the 25th United States Secretary of Labor, serving in the Obama administration. She is a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, representing the 31st and 32nd congressional districts of California that include...
, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius
Kathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice also participated in the Dialogue. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported how 200 Chinese bankers, bureaucrats and policymakers scrutinized Obama's economic strategy and commented "how much the global financial crisis has changed the subtle balance of power in meetings of 'the G2
Group of Two
The Group of Two is a proposed informal special relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Originally initiated by C...
'".
The U.S. and China also announced a resumption of routine military contacts and high-level visits by defense officials when Admiral Timothy Keating met with his Chinese counterpart during the dialogue.
On July 29, Wang Qishan met with Ben Bernanke and exchanged views on bilateral issues and other issues of mutual concern. Dai Bingguo had breakfast with a group of U.S. senators including Senator John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
and Senator Richard Lugar on Capitol Hill.
Highlights
Strategic Track
The Strategic Track of the S&ED consists of four pillars:- 1) Bilateral relations (people-to-people exchanges);
- 2) International security issues (nonproliferation, counterterrorism);
- 3) Global issues (health, development, energy, global institutions);
- 4) Regional security and stability issues (Afghanistan/Pakistan, Iran, DPRK).
Climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, clean energy, and the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
were also discussed in separate special sessions.
Key highlights from the Strategic Track include:
Climate Change, Energy, and Environment MOU,
North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
,
South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
,
Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
,
Counter-Terrorism
Counter-terrorism
Counter-terrorism is the practices, tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, militaries, police departments and corporations adopt to prevent or in response to terrorist threats and/or acts, both real and imputed.The tactic of terrorism is available to insurgents and governments...
,
Non-proliferation,
Military-to-Military Relations,
Human Rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
,
Energy Security
Energy security
Energy security is a term for an association between national security and the availability of natural resources for energy consumption. Access to cheap energy has become essential to the functioning of modern economies. However, the uneven distribution of energy supplies among countries has led...
, and
Global Issues.
Schedule
A schedule for the dialogue pertaining to the Strategic and Economic Track was arranged in advance and released by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of the Treasury respectively.July 27
- S&ED Family Photo
- S&ED Opening Ceremony
- Plenary Presentations of the S&ED
- Two-on-Two Meeting of the S&ED
- Plenary Luncheon for the S&ED
- Economic Track Family Photo
- Economic Track Principals Meeting
- Strategic Track Session I on Bilateral Relations
- Clinton and Dai Private Meeting
- Banquet Dinner for Participants of the S&ED hosted by Clinton
July 28
- Strategic Track Family Photo
- Strategic Track Session II on Global Issues
- Economic Track Opening Session
- MOUMemorandum of understandingA memorandum of understanding is a document describing a bilateral or multilateral agreement between parties. It expresses a convergence of will between the parties, indicating an intended common line of action. It is often used in cases where parties either do not imply a legal commitment or in...
Signing - Strategic Track Discussion III
- Strategic Track Luncheon hosted by Clinton
- S&ED Co-Leads Meeting with President Obama at the White HouseWhite HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
- S&ED Principals Meeting with President Obama at the White House
- U.S.–China Closing Statements
- U.S. Press Conference
- China Press Conference
- U.S.–China Business Council and National Committee on U.S.–China Relations Dinner
Participants
The first Dialogue provided an opportunity not only for the four co-chairs, Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Geithner, Vice Premier Wang Qishan, and State Councilor Dai, but also for over 20 officials of Cabinet-rankCabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
from each side to meet face-to-face and to discuss a range of substantive issues.
Economic Track
As special representatives of President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan were joined by many high-level officials for the Economic Track.On the U.S. side, they were joined by the following Cabinet members and other senior officials:
- Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack
- Secretary of Labor Hilda SolisHilda SolisHilda Lucia Solis is the 25th United States Secretary of Labor, serving in the Obama administration. She is a member of the Democratic Party and served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2009, representing the 31st and 32nd congressional districts of California that include...
- Secretary of Transportation Raymond LaHood
- Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Christina RomerChristina RomerChristina D. Romer is the Class of 1957 Garff B. Wilson Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and a former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Obama administration...
- Director of Office of Management and Budget Peter OrszagPeter OrszágPeter Ország is a Slovak ice hockey referee, who referees in the Slovak Extraliga.-Career:He has officiated many international tournaments including the Winter Olympics. He has been named Slovak referee of the year....
- U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk
- Director of the National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Lawrence SummersLawrence SummersLawrence Henry Summers is an American economist. He served as the 71st United States Secretary of the Treasury from 1999 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. He was Director of the White House United States National Economic Council for President Barack Obama until November 2010.Summers is the...
- Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben BernankeBen BernankeBen Shalom Bernanke is an American economist, and the current Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States. During his tenure as Chairman, Bernanke has overseen the response of the Federal Reserve to late-2000s financial crisis....
- Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Sheila Bair
- Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission Mary SchapiroMary SchapiroMary L. Schapiro is the 29th chairperson of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission .She is the immediate past chairperson and CEO of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority , the securities industry self-regulatory organization for broker-dealers and exchanges in the United States, and...
- Chairman of Commodity Futures Trading Commission Gary GenslerGary GenslerGary Gensler is the chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission under President Barack Obama.Gensler was Undersecretary of the Treasury and Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the United States. Barack Obama selected him to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which has...
- Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank Fred Hochberg
On the Chinese side, they were joined by the following Ministers and other senior officials:
- Minister of Finance Xie XurenXie XurenXie Xuren , is the current Minister of Finance of People's Republic of China, and former Director-General of the State Administration of Taxation. He's also a member of the 17th CPC Central Committee.-Biography:...
- Governor of the People's Bank of China Zhou XiaochuanZhou XiaochuanZhou Xiaochuan is a Chinese economist, banker, reformist and bureaucrat. As governor of the People's Bank of China since December 2002, he has been in charge of the monetary policy of the People's Republic of China....
- Chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission Liu MingkangLiu MingkangLiu Mingkang graduated from the University of London in 1987. In 1988 he received an MBA from the Cass Business School. He served as chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission from its creation in 2003 until he reached the retirement age of 65...
- Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission Chairman Shang FulinShang FulinShang Fulin is a politician of the People's Republic of China. He served as president of the China Securities Regulatory Commission until October, 2011, when he was appointed to lead the China Banking Regulatory Commission.- Biography :...
- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhou WenzhongZhou WenzhongZhou Wenzhong is a Chinese diplomat and fomer ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the United States of America from March 2005 to 2010.-Biography:...
- Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Bi JingquanBi JingquanBi Jingquan is Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council and Vice-President of the China Consumer Association.-Biography:Bi Jingquan graduated from the Economics Department of Beijing University in 1982....
- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs He YafeiHe YafeiHe Yafei is a Chinese diplomat and currently Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is reported by The Guardian newspaper to have moved post in early 2010.-Biography:...
- Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang XiaoqiangZhang XiaoqiangZhang Xiaoqiang is Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission.-Biography:Zhang Xiaoqiang began to work in 1969, and graduated from the Economics Department of Peking University in 1982. Now he is Vice Minister and Member of Leading Party Members’ Group, in National...
- Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Wang Xiaochu
- Vice Minister of Transport Weng Mengyong
- Vice Minister of Agriculture Niu Dun
- Vice Minister of Commerce Ma Xiuhong
- Vice Minister of Health Yin Li
- Vice Chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission Li KemuLi KemuLi Kemu is Vice Chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, a research fellow and a doctoral supervisor.-Biography:...
- President of the Export-Import Bank of China Li RuoguLi RuoguLi Ruogu is Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of China .-Biography:Li Ruogu graduated with a Masters in Law from Beijing University in 1981 and a Masters in Public Administration from Princeton University in 1983. He was briefly an assistant professor at Beijing University before...
Second round meetings
The meetings for the second round of the dialogue took place on May 24–25, 2010 in BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Chinese President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
gave a speech on the opening ceremony in the Great Hall of the People
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It functions as the People's Republic of China's...
. The dialogue was co-chaired by Hillary Clinton, Timothy Geithner, Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan is a politician in the People's Republic of China who currently serves as the Vice-Premier in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs under premier Wen Jiabao. Previously Wang served in regional positions in Hainan and Beijing...
and Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo
Dai Bingguo is a Chinese politician and professional diplomat. Since 2008, Dai has emerged as one of the foremost and highest-ranking figures of Chinese foreign policy in the Hu Jintao administration....
.
Before the dialogue, Hillary Clinton wrote an op-ed in the Global Times
Global Times
The Global Times is a daily Chinese tabloid under the auspices of the official Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the People's Daily, focusing on international issues...
. Chinese Finance Minister Xie Xuren
Xie Xuren
Xie Xuren , is the current Minister of Finance of People's Republic of China, and former Director-General of the State Administration of Taxation. He's also a member of the 17th CPC Central Committee.-Biography:...
wrote a piece in the Washington Post.
Participants
Over 200 senior U.S. officials arrived in Beijing for the meeting and a large delegation from China also participated. 15-18 U.S. cabinet officials and agency heads participated making it one of the largest U.S. delegation to travel to a foreign country.Economic Track
As special representatives of President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan were joined by many high-level officials for the Economic Track.U.S. Participants:
- Secretary of the Treasury Tim Geithner
- U.S. Ambassador to China Jon HuntsmanJon Huntsman, Jr.Jon Meade Huntsman, Jr. is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 16th Governor of Utah. He also served in the administrations of four United States presidents and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination.Huntsman worked as a White House staff assistant for...
- Secretary of Commerce Gary F. Locke
- Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen SebeliusKathleen SebeliusKathleen Sebelius is an American politician currently serving as the 21st Secretary of Health and Human Services. She was the second female Governor of Kansas from 2003 to 2009, the Democratic respondent to the 2008 State of the Union address, and chair-emerita of the Democratic Governors...
- U.S. Trade Representative Ronald Kirk
- Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors Christina RomerChristina RomerChristina D. Romer is the Class of 1957 Garff B. Wilson Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley and a former Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers in the Obama administration...
- Director of the Office of Science & Technology Policy John P. Holdren
- Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben BernankeBen BernankeBen Shalom Bernanke is an American economist, and the current Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the central bank of the United States. During his tenure as Chairman, Bernanke has overseen the response of the Federal Reserve to late-2000s financial crisis....
- President of the U.S. Export-Import Bank Fred P. HochbergFred P. HochbergFred P. Hochberg is an American businessman who has played leadership roles in government, non-profit and academic organizations. He is currently chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, having been appointed in January 2009 and confirmed in May 2009...
- Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Sheila C. BairSheila C. BairSheila Colleen Bair was the 19th Chairperson of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation . She was appointed to the post for a five-year term on June 26, 2006 by George W. Bush. Bair served as a member of the FDIC Board of Directors through July 8, 2011.-Early life:Bair is a native of...
- Director of the U.S. Trade & Development Agency Leocadia ZakLeocadia I. ZakLeocadia Irine Zak serves as the Director of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency where she leads an agency dedicated to encouraging economic growth in emerging markets and the export of U.S. goods and services to those markets. After being nominated by President Barack Obama in November 2009, Zak...
- Administrator of the Energy Information Administration Richard Newell
- Under Secretary for International Affairs of the Department of Treasury Lael BrainardLael BrainardLael Brainard is the United States Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs in the administration of President Barack Obama. She previously was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution from 2001 to 2009, and served as the vice president and director of the Global Economy and...
- Under Secretary for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs of the Department of State Robert D. Hormats
- Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services of the Department of Agriculture Jim MillerJim MillerJim Miller may refer to:* Jim Miller , college football coach* Jim Miller , University of Richmond athletic director* Jim Miller , former Carlton and Dandenong full-forward...
- Special Assistant to the President for International Economics and Senior Director of the National Security Council David Lipton
- Deputy Under Secretary for International Affairs, Department of Labor Sandra Polaski
- Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy David B. SandalowDavid B. SandalowDavid B. Sandalow is the Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs at the Energy Department, a position he has held since 2009....
- Director of the Office of International Affairs of the Securities and Exchange Commission Ethiopis Tafara
- Director of the Office of International Affairs of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Jacqueline Mesa
- Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Transportation Susan McDermott
- Department of Justice Antitrust Division Economics Director of Enforcement Kenneth Heyer
- Iowa State Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss
Chinese Participants:
- Vice Premier Wang QishanWang QishanWang Qishan is a politician in the People's Republic of China who currently serves as the Vice-Premier in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs under premier Wen Jiabao. Previously Wang served in regional positions in Hainan and Beijing...
- Minister of Finance Xie XurenXie XurenXie Xuren , is the current Minister of Finance of People's Republic of China, and former Director-General of the State Administration of Taxation. He's also a member of the 17th CPC Central Committee.-Biography:...
- Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang PingZhang Ping (politician)Zhang Ping is the current chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, a prominent department within the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Prior to his current position, he served as deputy secretary general of the State Council from 2006 to 2008.-Biography:Zhang was...
- Minister of Commerce Chen DemingChen DemingChen Deming is the Minister of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. He was appointed to the post at the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on December 29, 2007.-Biography:...
- Minister of Health Chen ZhuChen ZhuChen Zhu , is a Chinese hematologist, molecular biologist, and current Minister of Health of P.R.China...
- Governor of the People's Bank of China Zhou XiaochuanZhou XiaochuanZhou Xiaochuan is a Chinese economist, banker, reformist and bureaucrat. As governor of the People's Bank of China since December 2002, he has been in charge of the monetary policy of the People's Republic of China....
- Minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection, and Quarantine Wang YongWang YongWang Yong is a male Chinese water polo player who was part of the gold medal winning team at the 2006 Asian Games. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:*...
- Chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission Liu MingkangLiu MingkangLiu Mingkang graduated from the University of London in 1987. In 1988 he received an MBA from the Cass Business School. He served as chairman of the China Banking Regulatory Commission from its creation in 2003 until he reached the retirement age of 65...
- Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission Shang FulinShang FulinShang Fulin is a politician of the People's Republic of China. He served as president of the China Securities Regulatory Commission until October, 2011, when he was appointed to lead the China Banking Regulatory Commission.- Biography :...
- Chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission Wu Dingfu
- Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhang YesuiZhang YesuiZhang Yesui is a Chinese diplomat and currently the Chinese Ambassador to the United States. He has previously served as Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations and Vice-Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.-Biography:...
- Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council Bi JingquanBi JingquanBi Jingquan is Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council and Vice-President of the China Consumer Association.-Biography:Bi Jingquan graduated from the Economics Department of Beijing University in 1982....
- Vice Minister of the Office of the Central Leading Group on Financial and Economic Affairs Liu HeLiu HeLiu He , courtesy name Xuantai , was for seven days an emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao in 310.-Biography:...
- Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui TiankaiCui Tiankai-Biography:Born 1952 in Zhejiang Province, China, Cui graduated from the School of Foreign Languages of East China Normal University as well as from Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. He worked for the Chinese delegation to the United Nations...
- Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission Zhang XiaoqiangZhang XiaoqiangZhang Xiaoqiang is Vice Minister of the National Development and Reform Commission.-Biography:Zhang Xiaoqiang began to work in 1969, and graduated from the Economics Department of Peking University in 1982. Now he is Vice Minister and Member of Leading Party Members’ Group, in National...
- Vice Minister of Science and Technology Cao Jianlin
- Vice Minister of Industry and Information Technology Lou Qinjian
- Vice Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao
- Vice Minister of Transport Xu Zuyuan
- Vice Minister of Agriculture Niu Dun
- Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China Yi GangYi GangYi Gang is the Director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange and Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China.-Biography:...
- Vice Minister of the General Administration of Customs Sun Yibiao
- Vice Minister of the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council Yuan Shuhong
- President of the Export-Import Bank of China Li RuoguLi RuoguLi Ruogu is Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank of China .-Biography:Li Ruogu graduated with a Masters in Law from Beijing University in 1981 and a Masters in Public Administration from Princeton University in 1983. He was briefly an assistant professor at Beijing University before...
Third round meetings
The meetings for the third round of the dialogue will take place in 2011 in the United States.See also
- Sino-American relationsSino-American relationsFor the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
- Group of TwoGroup of TwoThe Group of Two is a proposed informal special relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China. Originally initiated by C...
- Strategic Economic Dialogue
- Senior DialogueSenior DialogueThe U.S.-China Senior Dialogue was a regular, high-level strategic dialogue between the United States and the People's Republic of China...