China's Premier Li Keqiang urged stronger cooperation with the U.S. in clean energy and environmental protection and other areas after meeting with a U.S. presidential trade mission in Beijing today.

"China is accelerating a new type of 'people-oriented' urbanization plan, which offers a huge market for the advanced technology and management experience of the United States," Li told the delegation led by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, reports China state news agency Xinhua.

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The delegation, which is made up of 24 U.S. business leaders in the clean technology industry, is the first presidential trade mission sent to China by the Obama administration.

Pritzker told Li that the mission shows how important the U.S. government considers its trade ties with China. She told Li that the U.S. is ready to increase cooperation with China in areas such as clean technology, energy conservation and environmental protection. The U.S. will raise BIT negotiations with China in a constructive manner in a move to reach a list acceptable to both as soon as possible, she added said.

Li, in turn, said that the two countries should combine U.S. technology, regulation and experience with competitive Chinese equipment and industries to jointly explore third markets.

"This will help boost balanced growth of our two-way trade," Li added.

Li said China is willing to improve strategic trust and substantial cooperation with the U.S., and properly manage differences and jointly cope with regional and global challenges.

Li added that the U.S and Chinese economies are highly compatible, and both countries enjoy huge cooperation prospects in areas such as infrastructure, energy, information and environmental protection. He called trade ties a "ballast" in the overall China-U.S. political ties.

He also called on both sides to facilitate negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) to reach a "high-level and balanced" agreement at an early date.

"China will continue to open wider to the world and will have a more transparent and predictable market," said the premier.

Li pledged to treat Chinese and foreign companies equally and better protect intellectual property rights.  He also called on the U.S. to ease high-tech exports to China and take effective measures to make Chinese investment in the U.S. more convenient.

TagsChina’s Premier Urges Stronger Clean Energy Cooperation with U.S., Li Keqiang, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, environmental protection, energy conservation