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)