Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and US President George W. Bush, whose countries are engaged in increasing trade disputes, will meet in Washington on Dec. 9, the White House announced on Wednesday.

Wen, making a four-state tour which will also include Canada, Mexico and Ethiopia, will be on his first visit to the United States since he became premier in March.

Although relations between the two states have improved markedly in recent years, disagreements over trade and economic issues have grown.

This month, the Bush administration decided to impose quotas and dumping-duties on Chinese textile products and TV makers. China responded by critising the decision as discriminatory and unfair.

Beijing recently announced it would raise duties on some US goods in response to US tariffs on steel imposed a year and a half ago.

China has called for consultations to mend the trade rift, which has fanned fears in Asia that the United States is growing more protectionists.

"The president looks forward to holding discussions with the premier on the full range of issues on the US-China agenda and to continue building a candid, constructive and cooperative bilateral relationship," White House spokeswoman Claire Buchan told reporters in Crawford, where Bush was on vacation.

Moreover, as the most important and sensitive issue in the Sino-US relationship, the Taiwan question will also be high on the agenda between Wen and Bush, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Wen will discuss bilateral relations and other major international issues of concern when meeting US President George W. Bush and other US leaders, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao earlier this week.

The premier will also attend several functions in Washington DC, New York and Boston during his December 7-10 stay.

(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2003)