BEIJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- China will sign the phase one economic and trade agreement with the United States next week in Washington, the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday.

At the invitation of the U.S. side, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, will lead a delegation to visit Washington from Jan. 13 to 15, MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a regular press conference.

The two sides are in close contact for the arrangements of the signing of the agreement, Gao added.