State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said on Tuesday that China hopes to work with the US to expand cooperation for mutual benefit.

 

"Under the new international situation, relations between China and the US have taken on a greater global influence and strategic meaning," Tang said in a meeting with former US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

 

Tang said relations between China and the US have witnessed stable development in recent years and there is opportunity for further development.

 

"China hopes to expand reciprocal cooperation with the US and increase consultation and coordination on key international and regional issues to further boost China-US ties," he said.

 

President Hu Jintao met with US President George W. Bush in Russia on Sunday on the sidelines of the G8 St. Petersburg summit. This is their second meeting following their talks in Washington D.C. in April.

 

Powell said relations between the US and China are very important and he believes the two countries will properly handle disputes and continuously improve cooperation.

 

Powell is visiting China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 19, 2006)