Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday encouraged business communities of both China and the United States to work more closely to push forward bilateral relations.

Wen made the remark while meeting Chinese and US participants in the first meeting of the China-US Business Dialogue, a new platform for the two countries to boost business ties through discussions, research and proposals to the government.

He expressed the hope that both sides can seize the opportunity provided by the mechanism to work more closely and push forward relations in business and other fields.

The China-US Business Dialogue, co-sponsored by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the US Chamber of Commerce, will focus on promoting cooperation between the business circles of the two countries.

China and the United States will take turns in hosting the annual meeting. Its first meeting concluded in Beijing Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2003)