Foreign and Military Affairs

US Deputy Secretary of State oncludes China visit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-12-17 15:08

BEIJING - US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg concluded his China visit on Friday morning, in which he held "useful" talks with senior Chinese officials.

During the three-day visit, Steinberg held talks with State Councilor Dai Bingguo, vice foreign ministers Zhang Zhijun and Cui Tiankai, and Chinese special representative for Korean Peninsula affairs Wu Dawei.

A press release from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the two sides spoke highly of the progress in bilateral relations since Obama took office and stressed the highly mingling of the two countries' interest and their interdependence.

The Chinese side said the two sides should strengthen mutual trust, exchanges and cooperation, and properly handle sensitive issues so as to promote sound and stable development of the bilateral relations, bring benefits to the two peoples and promote peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, the press release said.

The US side said it attaches high importance to relations with China and believes that a successful China is beneficial to the United States as well as the whole world. The United States will strengthen dialogue with China and expand bilateral coordination and cooperation on bilateral and major international and regional issues, according to the press release.

The press release said the two sides exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula situation.

A press statement from the US embassy in Beijing said the two sides had useful conversations concerning shared interests in peace and stability in northeast Asia, the importance of realizing the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsular, and next steps toward a return to implementation of the 2005 Joint Statement.

It said they also discussed preparations for Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming state visit to the United States.