WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States on Tuesday kicked off their annual trade talks in Washington D.C..

Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan co-chaired the 21st Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Trade Representative Ron Kirk.

High-ranking officials of both countries started their talks in small groups on Tuesday afternoon.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan (L) shakes hands with U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke prior to their meeting in Washington D.C, capital of the United States, Dec. 14, 2010. High-ranking officials of China and the United States started their talks in small groups here on Tuesday afternoon as part of the 21st Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meeting.

The plenary session of the 21st JCCT meeting will be held on Wednesday. In addition to talks on investment, trade, intellectual property right and other issues, it is expected that the two sides will sign a number of bilateral agreements on governmental cooperation at the talks later that day.

The JCCT began in 1983 as a platform for both countries to promote trade and address issues of mutual concern.

The 20th JCCT was held in east China's Hangzhou City on Oct. 28- 29, 2009.