Visiting Rice meets with Chinese top leaders
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-07-10 14:20

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) shakes hands with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 10, 2005. Rice is on a two-day visit to Beijing on a tour of four East Asian capitals to discuss ways to push ahead with negotiations on North Korean nuclear issues. [Reuters] U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) meets with Chinese President Hu Jintao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing July 10, 2005. Rice is on a two-day visit to Beijing on a tour of four East Asian capitals to discuss ways to push ahead with negotiations on North Korean nuclear issues. [Reuters] US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) shakes hands with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the Zhongnanhai leaders' compundound in Beijing July 10, 2005. Rice is on a two-day visit to Beijing on a tour of four East Asian capitals primarily to discuss ways to push ahead with negotiations on North Korean nuclear issues. [Reuters]

Premier Wen meets Rice

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Sunday Sino-US relations are currently in a sound momentum of development.

Wen made the remark during a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the Chinese government in Beijing.

Wen said China and the United States have carried out fruitful cooperation in a wide range of fields. Noting that both China and the United States are countries of important influence in the world, Wen said it is the strategic choice of both sides to safeguard and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations, which is in the fundamental interests of the peoples of both countries and conducive to peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

Wen said China is willing to further strengthen the constructive and cooperative relations with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits.

Wen specially made positive comments on the rapid expansion of trade and economic links between China and the United States.

He said mutually beneficial trade and economic cooperation between China and the United States have not only brought huge benefits to the peoples of both countries, but also promoted economic development in both countries and even in the world. He said these things constitute the mainstream of bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Wen also expressed the hope that the two countries should strictly abide by relevant regulations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and observe the principle of "development, equality and mutual benefits" to properly resolve problems in trade and economic cooperation through equal dialogue and friendly consultation, so as to realize a win-win situation in bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao meets in Beijing Sunday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived in Beijing Saturday evening for a 20-hour visit. (Xinhua Photo)

Wen stressed that China will insist on pursuing the route of peaceful development.

He said China will focus on economic development in dealing with domestic affairs and strive to achieve the goal of building a relatively well-off society in all aspects.

Meanwhile, he said China will adhere to an independent and peaceful foreign policy in dealing with international affairs.

China is trying to create a stable international environment under which it can develop itself, Wen said. In the meantime, China is promoting world peace and progress with its own development, Wen said.

"China is not and will never be interfering with and threatening any other countries," Wen said.

Wen and Rice also exchanged views on major regional and international issues during their meeting.

Rice arrived in Beijing Saturday for a 20-hour visit to China, the first leg of her Asian tour, which will also bring her to Thailand, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

During her stay in Beijing, Rice held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. She is also scheduled to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

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