Xi urges joint efforts to advance China-US ties

BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that China is ready to work with the United States to advance cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Xi made the remarks while meeting with US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, who is visiting Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in Beijing, capital of China, March 19, 2013. [Photo/Xinhua]

The president hailed the fruitful outcomes of bilateral relations in the past 30 years, with these results greatly benefiting the two peoples and promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the world.

China-US relations bear great interests and there are also differences, Xi said, noting that so long as the two sides treat the bilateral ties from a strategic height and long-term perspective, the relationship will continue to advance and bring more benefits to the two peoples.

"I attach great importance to China-US relations, and is willing to work with the US side to jointly advance the cooperative partnership," Xi said.

Lew congratulated Xi on his becoming China's president.

He called on the two sides to enhance cooperation on economic and strategic issues facing the two countries and properly manage their differences.

The United States has achieved 14 consecutive quarters of growth and seen recovery in the fields of energy, manufacture and housing, according to Lew.

As the world's two biggest economies, the United States and China have special responsibilities in maintaining a strong, sustainable and balanced growth globally, he added.