Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (2nd L), State Councilor Dai Bingguo (1st L), U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (2nd R) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (1st R) pose for a photo before the opening of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) in Washington, the United States, July 27, 2009. The China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), the first of its kind between the world's biggest developing country and biggest developed country, opened here on Monday. (Xinhua/Zhang Yan) Photo Gallery>>>

    The China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), the first of its kind between the world's biggest developing country and biggest developed country, opened in Washington on Monday, July 27.

    On behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao and invited by U.S. President Barack Obama, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and State Councilor Dai Bingguo participated in the opening ceremony in Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington, D.C..

    According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the U.S State Department, Dai will co-chair the "Strategic Track" of the dialogue with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while Wang will co-chair the "Economic Track" with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, each as a special representative of their respective presidents.

    Obama is expected to address the opening session of the dialogue, and meet with the Chinese delegation after the session.

    A congratulatory message by Chinese President Hu Jintao to the opening ceremony of the dialogue was also read.

    As two countries with significant influence in the world, China and the United States also enjoy extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation, President Hu said.

    China and the United States, in the face of the complex and changing international economic and political situation, should endeavor to expand common ground, reduce differences, enhance mutual trust and strengthen cooperation through the Strategic and Economic Dialogue, he said.

    "This serves the common interests of the two sides and will help advance the positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between our two countries," said the Chinese leader.

    "It is also of great importance for peace, stability, development and prosperity of the whole world," he added.

    The dialogue mechanism was upgraded from the former Strategic Dialogue and biennial Strategic Economic Dialogue, which were initiated by the two heads of state in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

    Following the opening ceremony of the dialogue, officials of China and the United States will have a face-to-face plenary session before the strategic track of the S&ED to be held at the State Department Building, while the economic track will first be held in Ronald Reagan Building before moving to the Treasury Department Building.

    The two-day dialogue will focus on addressing the challenges and opportunities that both countries face on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global areas of immediate and long-term strategic and economic interests.