On the afternoon of December 5, 2008, Chinese President Hu Jintao met at the Great Hall of the People with the U.S. delegation headed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, also special representative of the U.S. president. The delegation is here in China for the fifth China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED).

"China-U.S. relations now stand in an important era connecting the past and the future," President Hu said. The Chinese government values its ties with the United States and sees the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity, Hu said. "Let's grasp the direction of the constructive cooperation, step up dialogue, increase mutual trust, expand cooperation and push the bilateral relationship to a new high," Hu said.

Hailing the positive outcomes of the Sino-U.S. strategic economic dialogue, Hu said the dialogue was a success because the talks focused on comprehensive, strategic and long-term issues and served bilateral economic and trade cooperation, as well as the overall bilateral relationship. The success also lay in the fact that the two sides adhered to the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, took care of both nations' interests and concerns, broadened fields of bilateral cooperation and cultivated new areas for growth, Hu said. The success of the dialogue was also attributed to the two sides’ adherence to equal consultation and pragmatic cooperation, and to their efforts to narrow differences, broaden cooperation and properly address the problems arising from the cooperation, Hu said. "The two delegations should summarize the good experience and practice of the SED talks and jointly implement the consensus and outcomes that are reached," Hu said. "China and the United States should continue to enhance the building of their high-level dialogue mechanism for practical cooperation and stronger bilateral relations," Hu said.

Paulson said the launch of the SED was a farsighted strategic decision made by the presidents of the two nations. Paulson hailed the role of the SED in boosting bilateral trade relations and promoting the world economy. Over the past two years, the SED succeeded in dealing with the strategic economic relations, addressing the complicated and sensitive issues and promoting the bilateral ties, he said.

On U.S.-China relationship, Paulson said it was one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. Developing friendly cooperation with China conforms to the interests of both sides. He reaffirmed that the United States would like to work with China to further boost their ties.

During the meeting, both sides also exchanged views on the international financial crisis and other issues.

Led by Vice Premier Wang Qishan, also special representative of President Hu Jintao, the Chinese delegation included Minister of Finance Xie Xuren, Minister of National Development and Reform Commission Zhang Ping, Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Yin Weimin, Minister of Environment Protection Zhou Shengxian, Minister of Agriculture Sun Zhengcai, Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, Minister of Health Chen Zhu, Director of the General Administration of Customs Sheng Guangzu, Director of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Wang Yong and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong. Included in Paulson's high-profile delegation were U.S. Ambassador to China Clark Thorp Randt, Assistant to the President for International Economic Affairs Dan Price, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary of Health and Public Services Mike Leavitt, Director of the Office of Management and Budget Jim Nussle, Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Stephen Johnson. They were all present at the meeting.