Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held talks in Beijing Sunday on advancing bilateral relations.  

Li said that since the beginning of this year, both China and the US have made active efforts to implement the consensus reached by President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush in Santiago last year, in a bid to push for a steady progress of the constructive and cooperative relationship between the two countries.

A few days ago, the two leaders had a friendly meeting in Scotland, he said.

"We hope to carry out more dialogues, strengthen mutual trust and cooperation with the US, but expel interference at the same time, so as to safeguard the common interests of both countries and make new progress in the Sino-US constructive and cooperative relationship," Li said.

Li meanwhile pointed out that there are also some issues that need to be handled with prudence in current bilateral relations, citing that the situation across the Taiwan Straits remains complicated and sensitive.

Li hoped the US can show its adherence to the one-China policy through real actions and strictly abide by relevant commitments.

Rice said the US and China have carried out fruitful cooperation in a wide range of areas, but there are also some divergences.

She said the US expects mutual visits by heads of state within this year, and they will make active preparations.

Rice said the US highly values and is committed to strengthening dialogues with China. The US hopes to exchange views wit China on a wide range of topics to enhance mutual understanding and expand cooperation.

Rice also said that the US stance is firm on sticking to the one-China policy and on abiding by the three joint communiqués of the US and China. Li and Rice also exchanged views on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, UN reform and other issues of common concern.

(Xinhua News Agency July 11, 2005)