Kong Quan, director-general of the Foreign Ministry's
Information Department, said on Sunday that US President George W.
Bush's current visit to China has achieved important results.
President Hu Jintao
and Premier Wen
Jiabao held talks or met with Bush who arrived in Beijing
Saturday evening on a three-day visit.
Kong said Bush's visit is an important one conducted in a
friendly atmosphere, and it is pragmatic and constructive.
Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on all issues of
common concern and reached consensus on many issues, said Kong.
During their talks, Bush invited Hu to visit the US as soon as
possible, and Hu accepted with pleasure.
Kong said it is very important to maintain high-level dialogue
between the two nations, hoping that it would help expand common
interests and promote mutually beneficial cooperation so as to
realize common development and contribute to world peace and
stability.
Kong said this is the fifth meeting between the two presidents
this year, and the two leaders spoke highly of the development of
bilateral relations, reiterating that they will make concerted
efforts to push for new results in constructive and cooperative
ties.
Bush expressed his appreciation for China's unswerving
commitment to pursuing a peaceful development road, Kong
said.
China and the US have many common interests, should take account
of the general situation of bilateral ties and properly address
problems and frictions so as to ensure their steady and sound
development, Kong said.
On human rights, Kong said it is quite normal for the two
countries to have differences in this regard as they have different
historical and cultural backgrounds.
"What is more important is that the two sides can increase
mutual understanding and seek common ground through dialogue," Kong
said.
On trade, Kong said leaders of the two countries had an in-depth
discussion and expressed a willingness to join hands in gradually
realizing a trade balance in the course of development, and
properly handle trade issues through consultation.
On the bird flu issue, Kong said Hu and Bush reached consensus
on prevention and control cooperation and worked out a common
document, a concrete step in bilateral cooperation covering issues
including the research and development of vaccines and
medicines.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2005)