Wen told Rice China and the United States should handle the bilateral relationship with a strategic and long-term perspective, and jointly safeguard the "hard-earned" relationship through enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation.

He hailed the generally good development of the relations, citing the active implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries on comprehensively promoting the China-US constructive and cooperative ties this century, and the new progress of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

"China is the largest developing country in the world, while the US is the largest developed country. The good relationship is both beneficial to the two countries and the two peoples, and conducive to safeguarding world peace, stability and prosperity," Wen said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Beijing, capital of China, February 26, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)