US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Thursday hailed the achievements of the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) during his meeting with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi.  

Powell expressed his congratulations for the remarkable achievements scored by the JCCT. He said that strengthening the US-China economic and trade cooperation, which is important not only for the two countries but also for the whole world, accords with the interests of people in both countries.

The United States is willing to make efforts to promote exports to China as well as economic and trade cooperation with China, Powell said.

Wu briefed Powell on the 15th session of the JCCT and its achievements. It has been proved again, she said, that China and the United States are able to settle their trade disputes appropriately so long as they approach bilateral relationship from a strategic and long-term perspective and in the spirit of mutual respect and holding negotiations on an equal basis.

Wu said China is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the United States and settle disputes between them in a proper manner.

The Sino-US economic and trade cooperation, which has become an important basis for the constructive partnership between the two countries, can secure long-term development only through a win-win relationship of mutual benefit, Wu said.

China's long-term goal is to achieve trade balance with the US and is willing to increase imports from the United States, said the Chinese vice premier said, who in the meantime urged the United States to take concrete actions to ease restrictions on its exports of high-tech products to China.

(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2004)