China, US start annual trade talks in Hangzhou

China and the United States on Thursday started their annual trade talks in Hangzhou, captial of east China's Zhejiang province.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan co-chaired the 20th Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) with Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Trade Representative Ron Kirk of the United States.

The JCCT, which now includes a number of working groups to discuss specific trade issues during the year, was established in 1983 as a government-to-government consultative mechanism for resolving trade concerns and pursuing bilateral commercial opportunities.

The JCCT was elevated to the deputy-premier level in 2004.