The Chinese President Jiang Zemin said on Tuesday the Sino-US relationship is critical to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, and the two countries, with common responsibilities and interests in many areas, should increase exchanges and cooperation.
Jiang made the remarks at a meeting with a US delegation headed by Donald A. Manzullo, a representative to the US Congress.
Jiang said Sino-US relations on the whole have progressed despite many ups and downs. Bilateral exchanges and cooperation inwide ranging fields have not only benefited the people of both countries, but have also contributed significantly to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
Jiang said Manzullo and his colleagues are the first US friends he has met since the beginning of this year, and expressed the hope that they could see more in China and put forward their valuable suggestions on promoting Sino-US relations.
Manzullo said that his visit aims to deepen understanding about China and to promote cooperation between the two countries.
He said he appreciates the great efforts China has made before and after its entry into the World Trade Organization, and believes that the development of trade relations between the two countries will be more satisfactory within the framework of the WTO.
(China Daily January 9, 2002)
