Commerce : China and the United States will sign the first-phase economic andtrade agreement next week.

Gao Feng, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce, revealed at a regularpress conference this afternoon that Liu He, a member of the Political Bureauof the CPC Central Committee, deputy prime minister of the State Council andChinese leader of the China-US Comprehensive Economic Dialogue, will He led adelegation to Washington from 13 to 15 this month to sign the first-phaseeconomic and trade agreement with the United States. The two teams are inclose communication on the specific arrangements for signing the agreement.

China and the United States reach agreement on the text of the first-stageeconomic and trade agreement

Through the joint efforts of the China-US Economic and Trade Group, the twosides reached an agreement on the text of the first phase of the China-USeconomic and trade agreement on the basis of equality and mutualrespect. The text of the agreement includes nine chapters: preamble,intellectual property, technology transfer, food and agricultural products,financial services, exchange rates and transparency, expanded trade, bilateralassessments and dispute settlement, and final provisions. At the sametime, the two sides reached an agreement that the United States will fulfillits commitment to phase out the tariff increase on Chinese products and realizea transition from an increase to a decrease in tariff growth.

Liu He will lead a delegation to the United States to sign the first-phaseeconomic and trade agreement? The Foreign Ministry responded to the

question: Regarding China-US economic and trade negotiations. According toreports, Vice Premier Liu He will lead a economic and trade delegation toWashington on January 13 to sign a first-phase economic and trade agreementwith the United States. Can you confirm it?

Regarding the specific arrangements for China-US economic and tradenegotiations, I suggest you ask the Ministry of Commerce.

(Original title: Department of Commerce: China and the US next week to sign thefirst stage of economic and trade agreements)