Chinese and U.S. senior officials on Tuesday vowed to improve trade ties in a bid to create a "positive atmosphere" for the upcoming meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush in Washington next month.

"The two commerce ministries should work together to ensure the success of the 17th meeting of the Sino-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade," Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi told visiting U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez.

"In this way, can we promote the sound and stable development of Sino-U.S. trade and create a positive atmosphere for President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States," she said during the 100-minute meeting with Gutierrez in Beijing.

Sino-U.S. trade hit 212 billion U.S. dollars last year. China has become the fourth largest export market and the third largest trade partner of the United States.

Source: Xinhua