China and the United States have started the new year with major
events planned for developing bilateral relations further,
beginning with an announcement on Tuesday that President Hu Jintao
will visit the US later this year.
During talks between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo
and visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, both
sides pledged to carefully prepare Hu's visit, the second in less
than 12 months.
Both agreed that the visit is a "big event" for bilateral
relations and is of great significance in promoting the
constructive and cooperative partnership between the two countries
in the new century.
Zoellick, Washington's number two foreign policy official, said
the series of meetings he had with Chinese officials on Tuesday
were "good and full discussions."
Zoellick arrived in Beijing on Monday evening after concluding a
visit to Japan, the first leg of his two-nation Asian trip. On
Tuesday morning, Zoellick met with Premier Wen
Jiabao, Foreign Minister Li
Zhaoxing and also held talks with Dai.
Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to further develop
constructive, cooperative relations. They said bilateral relations
have developed at a "steady and positive" way over the past
year.
Zoellick's meeting with Wen was prolonged far beyond the
scheduled time as they "exchanged views on bilateral relations and
regional and international issues of common concern."
Briefing the press after the meeting, Wen said China attaches
great importance to developing relations with the United States.
China is ready to strengthen the bilateral strategic dialogue so as
to deepen mutual understanding, enhance mutual trust and maintain
the stable, healthy development of
Sino-US relations.
Zoellick also met with China's top development planner Ma Kai
and head of the banking regulatory commission Liu Mingkang.
Before the meetings, Zoellick had breakfast with Zheng Bijian, a
veteran Chinese researcher who helped to characterize Zoellick's
definition of China as a "responsible stakeholder."
"I'm pleased to see that the 'stakeholder' concept generates
good discussions in China," Zoellick said at a press conference
before leaving Beijing for Chengdu on Tuesday afternoon.
Zoellick's current visit to China is part of the system of
dialogue developed since Hu and US President George W. Bush agreed
last year to develop a constructive and cooperative Sino-US
relationship in an all-round manner.
Hu and Bush met five times on different occasions in 2005 and
maintained contact over a telephone hotline during the year.
Zoellick and Dai held two rounds of strategic dialogue in August
and?December last year.
According to sources from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zoellick
and his Chinese counterpart Dai held an "extensive and
constructive" dialogue on major regional and international
issues.
As he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the two sides
expressed the willingness to further strengthen cooperation at
bilateral and multilateral levels.
During the meetings, Zoellick expressed the wish that China
would play a bigger and more positive role in the international
system.
Local analysts say the visit of Zoellick at the beginning of the
year will help maintain a healthy momentum in bilateral relations
in the new year.
(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2006)
