US, Chinese officials, talk of mutual cooperation on work to ease world financial crisis

US, China tout mutual goals in economic recovery

WASHINGTON — Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan says he’s confident the world economic crisis is easing and his government has high expectations for even more progress in high-level talks this week with U.S. officials.

Following Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in kicking off the rare high-level talks for the Washington talks, Wang said he believes the global economy “is at a critical moment of moving out of crisis and into recovery.”

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner welcomed Qishan and some 150 Chinese to the talks Monday morning, saying China has gone through a remarkable economic “transformation.” He said Beijing and Washington “have acted together” to help the world recover from the financial slump and that it’s time to design a “green global economy.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has opened talks with high-level Chinese officials, hailing an opportunity for better relations and saying the two countries share common interests and mutual threats.

Kicking off a new dialogue with Beijing, Clinton said that the two “are laying brick by brick the foundation of a stronger relationship.”

She said it was time to move from “a multipolar world to a multipartner world.”

The talks will include discussions of the global economic slide, climate change and commercial relationships. Clinton said the two “will not always see eye to eye.” Both sides are emphasizing the importance of the meetings.