BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States will discuss issues of common concern in the first round of strategic and economic dialogue so as to promote understanding, mutual trust and cooperation, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday.

    The China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue, launched by Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama during their meeting in London in April, will hold its debut meeting in the United States in late July.

    BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday expressed condolences to the families of victims onboard the crashed Air France jet which included nine Chinese citizens.

    "We lament the deaths of all the victims and express our deep condolences to their families," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular press briefing.

    BEIJING, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Afghan Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta will pay an official visit to China from June 9 to 12 at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi.

    Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang made the announcement at a regular press briefing on Thursday.