BUSINESS INFORMATION - United States and China will hold annual ministerial talks them on issues of trade and investment

BUSINESS INFORMATION - United States and China will hold annual ministerial talks them on issues of trade and investment later this month, ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to Beijing, officials said Thursday.

20th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) USA-China will be held in east China city of Hangzhou on 28-29 October, according to a joint statement from the office of U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Commerce.

The U.S. side will be represented by the USTR, Ron Kirk, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack while China's Vice Prime Minister Wang Qishan will lead the team, a statement said.

JCCT, a high-level forum of government-to-government to address issues of trade and investment, has more than a dozen working groups and sub-groups that meet throughout the year. Last session was held Yorba Linda, California last year.

Trade tensions between the forces has increased in recent months, with both sides to take action against the other imports.

Obama lit the first major trade fight of his presidency last month after he wore a penalty on the import of tires made in China.

Beijing angry lodge a complaint at the World Trade Organization, and responded by launching an investigation possible practices unfair trade involving products imported U.S. cars and chicken meat.

Beijing charged that Washington's move violated WTO rules, but Obama has denied that it was a number of protectionism.

Last week, the United States launched an investigation into whether to mengenakanr 100 percent tariffs on steel pipes from China.

Obama makes first presidential visit to China on 15-18 November. He will visit Shanghai and Beijing, where he will hold a series of talks with President of China Hu Jintao.