US, China to launch talks for key investment accord

ANNAPOLIS (MARYLAND): The United States and China have agreed to launch talks to forge a bilateral investment treaty aimed at promoting open markets, fair treatment, transparency and the rule of law, officials said on Wednesday.

"The United States and China have agreed to launch negotiations for a bilateral investment treaty," an administration official said ahead of the conclusion Wednesday of the senior level US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Annapolis, Maryland, east of Washington.

A formal announement is expected at the end of the two-day talks, officials said.