"But the US can export more high-tech products for civilian use such as environmental protection and green energy products," which China is in dire need of, Zhou said.

An increase in the exports of such products will help create job opportunities in the US, where the jobless rate hit 9.7 percent in March.

In 2007, China signed an agreement with US-based Westinghouse, under which it will use the company's AP1000 technology to build two nuclear power plants. The $8-billion agreement, the first large-scale joint venture nuclear project, created more than 5,500 jobs in the US.

On Google's recent move to exit from the Chinese mainland market, Locke said "this is a business decision" by the company.

But he said the US is concerned "about China's increasing use of industrial policies that may restrict market access and discriminate against foreign goods and services".

Some foreign companies in China say those policies favor domestic businesses, but some Chinese companies have long complained that the government offers too many preferential policies to foreign firms.

Premier Wen Jiabao reassured foreign companies last week that they will not face discrimination in the country as the government will "unswervingly" continue its opening up drive that will facilitate foreign investment.

"The policy of encouraging indigenous innovation treats all businesses in China the same. It will not exclude foreign companies," Wen said when he met some European business people who have enterprises in China.

Locke also expressed hope for a more open market in China.

"China recently issued new policy guidelines that may provide more openness and lower market access thresholds to foreign investment in certain sectors. We look forward to more details."