US officials in China for fourth annual economic meet

The US and China are holding their annual strategic economic dialogue in Beijing.

This year's session though, may be strained by a number of issues, not least the heightened tensions in the South China Sea and the recent furore over a blind activist.

The hope is that business matters will be easier talking points. China is expected to focus on investment and trade, as well financial market reform and stability.

The US meanwhile is likely to push on China's currency policy and quicker reform of its state-owned enterprises.

The BBC's Sharanjit Leyl asked Qian Liu from the Economist Intelligence Unit how easy it would be to talk trade at a time when so many political matters seem to overshadow the talks?