The third China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue will be held in Beijing on December 12-13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao announced Thursday.

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will co-chair the meeting as special representatives of state leaders of the two countries.

Ministers and other senior officials from related departments of the two governments will also attend the dialogue, Liu added.

The dialogue was launched by President George W. Bush and President Hu Jintao in September 2006. The biannual SED between Beijing and Washington serves as a platform to discuss long-term, strategic and comprehensive issues in the bilateral trade relationship.