China-US strategic dialogue hailed a success
By Jiang Zhuqing (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-03 05:43

China and the United States yesterday hailed their first strategic dialogue a success, saying it will help expand consensus and give "a better sense of perspective."

"Thanks to joint efforts from both sides, the first Sino-US strategic dialogue has been a success," said Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing when meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, who arrived in Beijing on Sunday for the talks.

The dialogue shows co-operation between the two countries has risen to new heights, said Li, adding that talks will help both nations increase mutual trust, expand consensus and promote bilateral constructive relations in a healthy and stable manner.

Zoellick expressed US hopes to foster stronger relations with China. "We had a chance to identify possible points of mutual interest but also, where we do not see eye-to-eye, to better understand one another's position and to help manage those differences," Zoellick said at a briefing.

He said the meetings touched upon energy, security, terrorism, economic development and trade, as well as human rights, but did not give any details.

"China is a significant influence on the world economy," he said. "So part of our challenge going forward is to see how to co-operate in terms of strengthening systems, whether the international trade system or capital currency system.

"The difference of this dialogue with some other meetings which rather focus on a couple of items is that here we try to review the landscape to get a better sense of perspective," he said.

Zoellick said the purpose of dialogue was to "better understand the sense of direction, the planning," but also to lay the groundwork for further discussions in the future.

As to a query about China's recent adjustment of the exchange rate, Zoellick referred to Treasury Secretary John W. Snow's statement that the action is "an important first step."

The closed-door dialogue, the first of its kind since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 26 years ago, was co-chaired by Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and Zoellick. The two sides agreed to hold a second strategic dialogue in the United States later this year.

In another development, Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, yesterday spoke highly of the achievements of the seventh Sino-US parliamentary dialogue.

He made the remark when meeting with a delegation of the House of Representatives of the US Congress, headed by Donald A. Manzullo, chairman of the US-China Inter-parliamentary Exchange Group.

Through "frank, friendly and pragmatic" talks, the two sides expanded understanding and consensus," he said.

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