Forum expected to ease trade tensions

WASHINGTON - A senior US diplomat said on Saturday that Washington hopes the China-US Governors Forum can offer creative ideas to enhance bilateral economic ties and overcome recent friction.

Dozens of US governors have led trade missions to China and tried to attract investment, but there are "some issues" regarding investment relations between the two countries, US Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert Hormats said at a Chinese embassy reception for the US governors and a delegation from Central China's Hunan province.

He hoped that the governors could help Washington draft better economic policies by providing positive examples from their own experience.