China, US Officials Start Trade Dispute Talks

Top Chinese and US officials kicked off crucial trade talks on Thursday in Beijing but both sides sought to dampen expectations for a quick resolution to a heated dispute between the world's two largest economies.

The gathering comes months after US President Donald Trump sparked a series of tit-for-tat exchanges by threatening to impose huge tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods, sparking fears of a potentially damaging trade war.

"It is not realistic to resolve all issues through only one round of negotiations" Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry had said on Wednesday.

The "discussions and negotiations should be based on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and the outcome mutually beneficial and win-win. Let's wait and see," she said on Thursday, announcing that the talks had begun.

The US delegation includes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House economic advisers Peter Navarro, Larry Kudlow, Everett Eissenstat and ambassador Terry Branstad.

President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser, Vice Premier Liu He, is leading the Chinese side.

Most of the team gathered at a hotel in central Beijing on Thursday before heading to the US embassy and on to talks at China's state guest house.

While walking to their motorcade the American officials smiled and ignored reporters who shouted questions. Kudlow flashed a thumbs up.

Each member of the team is known to harbour strong views with varying degrees of hawkishness on the dispute – from Navarro, author of "Death by China", to Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive who has publicly expressed optimism on resolving the spat. (AFP)