China has officially kicked off anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into automobile imports from the US, the nation's top trade official confirmed yesterday. The move is a significant and timely decision to show the country's clout on the global economic stage, analysts and officials said separately.

Commerce Minister Chen Deming said that his ministry was carrying out a probe on some vehicle imports from the US, based on requests from Chinese automakers.

The confirmation was made during high-level talks to resolve trade disputes between the two countries yesterday in Hangzhou.