The overall relationship between China and the United States has recently seen sound development, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Beijing Thursday.
In a meeting with Sandra Day O?Connor, associate justice of the U.S. Federal Supreme Court, Jiang said the two countries share extensive and important common interests, although some differences still remain.
Citing China as the world's largest developing country and the US as the biggest developed nation, Jiang said the two sides should strengthen mutual exchanges and understanding in consideration of their different domestic circumstances.
He said a constructive and cooperative relationship between the two nations is beneficial to the practical interests of the two peoples, and is also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world at large.
Sino-U.S. relations will evolve in a healthy and stable manner so long as the two sides properly handle issues related to bilateral relations from a strategic viewpoint and a long-term perspective, Jiang said.
With respect to China's legal system, Jiang said China attaches great importance to the system's important role in the country's economic construction and social development.
Since its opening-up and reform, he said, China has made remarkable achievements in both economic development and legal system building.
China will further improve its socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, promote judiciary reform, ensure a justified and independent jurisdiction so as to provide better legal guarantees for China's modernization drive, Jiang said.
O?Connor said that she has witnessed great changes in China and has seen significant achievements in the construction of legal system since she last visited the country in the early 1980s.
The United States and China, as two of the world's important countries, should strengthen exchanges and cooperation, she said.
Courts of both sides should also enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, she added.
Xiao Yang, president of China's Supreme People's Court, was present at the meeting.
O?Connor is here at the invitation of the Supreme People's Court.
(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2002)
