The Chinese government expects U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's visit to China to promote mutual understanding and trust, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Tuesday.

Paulson kicked off a four-day visit to China on Tuesday. Chinese leaders and officials from the State Development and Reform Commission and the Ministries of Finance, Commerce, Health, and Information Industry are scheduled to meet or hold talks with him.

Qin said the two sides would exchange views on issues including strengthening economic and trade cooperation, which benefited the two countries' constructive partnership, and influenced global economic safety, stability and growth.

"China and the U.S. each have interests and concerns, which Paulson's visit will provide opportunities to express." Qin said.

More importantly China and the U.S. should view bilateral ties from an all-round perspective and take a wide range of common interests into consideration, Qin said.

China started to revalue its currency, the yuan, in July last year by linking it to a basket of currencies instead of the U.S. dollar alone and allowing it to move within a 0.3 percent floating band each day.

"Both China and the U.S. have their own concerns," Qin said, adding the currency issue should not be linked to political issues and should not hinder the development of Sino-U.S. economic and trade ties.

Source: Xinhua