China said on Tuesday that the next round of high-level strategic and economic talks with the United States would be held in Beijing in late May, amid strains between the countries on a number of issues.
"China and the US have preliminarily agreed to hold the second round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Beijing in late May -- the specific dates are still under discussion," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will represent the US side, while Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councillor Dai Bingguo will lead the Chinese delegation, Qin told reporters.
The talks will be the highest-level meeting between the two sides since ties broke down earlier this year, over US arms sales to Taiwan, Internet freedom, the value of the yuan and a visit by the Dalai Lama to the White House.
"The Strategic and Economic Dialogue mechanism is a platform to exchange views on major issues and promote cooperation in major fields," Qin said.
"The two countries will take this opportunity to exchange views on strategic, overall and long-lasting comprehensive issues of mutual interest," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"The two countries will take this opportunity to exchange views on strategic, overall and long-lasting comprehensive issues of mutual interest," he said.
{{/usCountry}}The first round of the dialogue was held in Washington in July last year.