Kerry to Lead U.S. Team for Economic Talks in China

Top U.S. officials visit China next week for key annual talks, as ties strain between the two economic powers amid concerns over cyber-spying and regional maritime tensions.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will lead the U.S. delegation to the sixth meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, the State Department said Monday.

The talks, on July 9 and 10, will address "the challenges and opportunities that both countries face on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global areas," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said in a statement.

The two men will be joined by their Chinese co-chairs State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Vice Premier Wang Yang.

But the talks come against the backdrop of a slew of contentious issues between Washington and Beijing, including intellectual property rights and China's valuation of its currency, the yuan.

The world's top two economies have also long been at loggerheads over hacking.

Last month, Washington indicted five Chinese military officers for allegedly hacking into U.S. computers to steal trade secrets.

China responded swiftly and angrily, summoning the U.S. ambassador and charging hypocrisy as former CIA contractor Edward Snowden has revealed widespread U.S. snooping inside China.

Beijing also cancelled a meeting of a cybersecurity working group, set up just a year ago, which was supposed to meet as part of next week's talks.

In recent months, China has also moved assertively and unilaterally in maritime disputes with Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines despite U.S. pleas to respect international standards.

U.S. officials have voiced alarm at China's assertions of legal authority over foreign vessels in the 200-mile exclusive economic zone from its coast.

China claims most of the South China Sea -- including waters approaching its neighbors' coastlines -- and has been increasingly assertive in staking the claims.

Washington says it does not take a position in the disputes, but its insistence that Beijing should follow "rules of the road" and discuss the matter in regional fora with American allies, has antagonized China.

"Senior civilian and military officials will exchange views on a range of security issues of strategic importance to both countries," Psaki added.