[File photo]

China and the United States will hold talks on trade and economic issues in Beijing on Thursday and Friday.

The Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday that a US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, visiting as US President Donald Trump's special envoy, will discuss the China-US economic and trade issues with Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

This is the first high-level meeting since the bilateral trade dispute escalated in March. The US delegation includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Larry Kudlow, assistant to the president for economic policy, and Peter Navarro, assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy. The delegates also make up most of the economic team of the administration.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday it is in the best interests of the two countries to resolve disputes and maintain overall stability of bilateral business relations through negotiations.