2015年CRI 人文交流成为今年中美磋商焦点（在线收听）

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong will join U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in kicking off this year's U.S.- China Consultation on People-to-People Exchanges.

Kristie Kenny, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, says there are some new growth points for cooperation this year.

"When we look at our world and we've seen issues like Ebola, too important it is for American and Chinese experts to talk about health care."

Before discussions begin, Vice Premier Liu Yandong paid a visit to Houston, Texas over the weekend.

She toured a university and a medical center and also stopped at the Houston Rockets home court Toyota Center, where Liu cheered a group of Chinese and American high school basketball players.

The Chinese Vice Premier admits she's a fan of the Rockets.

The Houston Rockets are providing basketball training to high school basketball players of Tsinghua High School. That is the high school attached to Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Meanwhile, the team's former center Yao Ming is in the city for some basketball-themed activities.

As a sport fan, Ambassador Kenny expresses her excitement over Yao Ming's joining the NBA.

"When Yao Ming arrived and played in the NBA, it was such a 'Wow' moment. It reminded us that our two countries share a love of basketball, and there's Yao Ming, this incredible Chinese basketball star traveling to America and playing with us."

The two sides are also planning to strengthen cooperation in the areas of women's leadership development and educational exchanges.

Ambassador Kenny believes the American side is willing to expand bilateral exchange with the Chinese side.

"There is no way you could stop these dialogues. I'm really sure whoever becomes president in 2016 will find this such a useful and productive way for the United States and China to talk about everything."

China and the United States have been holding the annual talks yearly since 2009.

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.