WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said today that the United States and China have reached agreement on the need to work toward more balanced global growth once the current economic crisis has ended.

Geithner spoke as the two countries were wrapping up two days of discussions aimed at seeking to narrow differences on a wide range of economic and foreign policy issues.

"Our two nations are committed to a strong and stable international financial system that will contribute to more stable, balanced growth globally," Geithner said as he and top Chinese economic officials resumed discussions on a variety of economic issues.

In his opening comments, Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan voiced support for a key U.S. goal that China shift to more domestic-led growth rather than depending so much on exports that drive up the U.S. trade deficit.

"China will focus on boosting domestic demand and in particular consumer demand," Wang said, speaking through a translator.

The economic talks today were expected to focus on the need to fight against erecting protectionist trade barriers during the current economic downturn. Another topic was to be the overhaul the global financial organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to give emerging economies such as China greater say in the operation of the institutions.