请看《中国日报》报道：

　　Negotiations on the China-United States Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) will make up most of the discussions during President Xi Jinping's forthcoming state visit to the US, the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday.

　　商务部16日表示，习近平主席即将对美国进行国事访问，中美双边投资协定谈判将成为此行的重要议题。

　　双边投资协定

　　"Xi's upcoming state visit to the US is a matter of primary importance for Sino-US relations, and will exert a profound influence on the bilateral relationship and economic cooperation," said Shen Danyang, the ministry spokesman.

　　商务部发言人沈丹阳表示，习近平主席即将对美国进行的国事访问，是今年中美双边关系中的头等大事，将对两国关系和双边经贸关系产生深远影响。

　　沈丹阳表示，中方希望借此次访问契机(opportunities)，进一步发挥经贸合作对双边关系压舱石和推进器(anchor and propeller of China-US relations)的作用，丰富中美新型大国关系的经贸内涵，促进双边经贸合作迈向新台阶(reaching a new high)。

　　Shen said both China and the US are going through intense negotiations over economic and trade results to be achieved during Xi's visit, which is set for Sept 22-25, and are aiming for a productive economic and trade cooperation.

　　沈丹阳说，为此，双方工作团队正在就习主席访美经贸成果进行密集磋商，希望最终拿出一个成果丰硕的清单。

　　中美投资协定谈判启动于2008年，迄今已经进行了19轮谈判(negotiations)。今年6月第七次中美战略与经济对话(US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue)会期间，双方同意将继续积极推动中美投资协定谈判，并首次交换了负面清单(negative list)。双方还同意今年9月再次交换出价。