BEIJING - China and the United States wrapped up high-level talks aimed at strengthening shaky relations Friday as the two sides cranked up efforts to enhance bilateral economic ties.

The American and Chinese delegations announced agreements to cooperate more closely to promote trade, open markets, protect the environment and develop cleaner energy sources.

"We each will take measures to address global imbalances through greater national savings in the United States and to increase consumption and exchange rate flexibility in China," Paulson said.

Paulson was speaking at briefing with his counterpart, Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, who described the two-day discussions as useful and productive.

"This dialogue has helped both of us to build mutual understanding and enhance trust," she said, adding a number of differences remained.

"That such differences remain is understandable because the actual situations of China and the United States are completely different," Wu said.

When asked at a later news conference about specifics on the talks about the value of the yuan, Paulson said, "The only thing I can say about currency reform is we had a very good discussion on that... As to what concrete results will come out of this, time will tell."

The talks at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing were billed as a long-range "strategic economic dialogue." They were launched by U.S. President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao in September as a way for the countries to boost their economic ties.

The second round will be held in Washington in May.

Wu said Beijing hoped the exchanges would help clear up U.S. misunderstandings about China.

China's mounting trade surpluses with the United States have fueled complaints by American manufacturers that Beijing keeps the Chinese yuan undervalued, giving its exporters an unfair price advantage.

Asked if the trip would satisfy such critics, Paulson said, "It's speculation as to what will satisfy various members of Congress. So I can only say I am very pleased with what we have accomplished, because we've got some immediate tangible results, some that are symbolic but I think symbolically important."

In a speech Friday in Beijing, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said a more flexible currency would improve the lives of China's people and foster global economic stability.

and stability," Bernanke said at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The United States says its November trade gap with China swelled to US$24.4 billion (euro18.4 billion). It is on track to hit US$229 billion (euro173 billion) this year, far above last year's record US$202 billion (euro152 billion) level.

The export surge has nudged up the yuan, which on Thursday was allowed to rise to its highest level since July 2005. Chinese stock markets also rose to a five-year high Thursday.

Paulson has tried to downplay expectations of breakthroughs in this week's talks, describing them as the start of a long-term discussion, but the high-profile of the U.S. delegation had raised expectations.

Besides Bernanke, Paulson's delegation also included Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, as well as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Chinese Finance Minister Jin Renqing told the same briefing that Beijing would allow the Nasdaq market and New York Stock Exchange to open formal business offices in China.

Jin did not give a timetable for opening the offices or any other details. Dozens of Chinese companies have listed shares on Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange, and both are eager for business as China's economy booms.

The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. has a representative office in Beijing but that status restricts the scope of its activities, barring companies from doing such things as signing contracts. The parent of the New York Stock Exchange is the NYSE Group Inc.