Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan(3rd, R) , U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke(3rd, L), U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk(2nd, L), U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack(1st, R), U.S. ambassador to China Jon Huntsman(1st, L) and Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming(2nd, R) visit the site where the negotiation of Sino-US joint Communiqué took place in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)

A trio of senior U.S. officials arrived Wednesday China's eastern city of Hangzhou for trade talks aimed at easing trade disputes and laying the groundwork for next month's presidential summit in Beijing.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan speaks during a welcoming cocktail party in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will participate in the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) which will officially open Thursday morning. The Chinese side will be led by Vice Premier Wang Qishan.

As this year's JCCT comes a few weeks ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's first China visit scheduled for mid-November, it was widely seen as part of preparations for Obama's meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan(R) and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke(C) visit a photo exhibition on the subject of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 28, 2009. (Xinhua/Wang Dingchang)