Trade talks send a 'positive signal'

Despite a lack of substantial results, the just-concluded trade talks between China and the United States in Washington send a positive signal and may lead to new proposals to lift the two sides out of the current stalemate, Chinese experts said.

China and the US had "constructive and candid" talks on economic and trade issues of mutual concern in Washington from Aug 22 to 23, and both sides will stay in contact for future arrangements, the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Friday.

The ministry said that at the invitation of the US, Wang Shouwen, vice-minister of commerce and China's deputy international trade representative, met with a team led by David Malpass, the US Treasury Department's undersecretary for international affairs.