Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and U.S. President George W. Bush met at the White House on Tuesday, agreeing to push forward with the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, Yang hailed the great development that two countries have achieved in the past seven years in enhancing China-U.S. relations, which he said also contributed to the peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world.

He noted that Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Bush have set the direction for the future development of bilateral relations during their meeting held at the sidelines of the Hokkaido G8 summit in Japan earlier this month.

China is willing to work with the United States to follow the direction and push forward with the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries, Yang added.

For his part, Bush told the visiting Chinese top diplomat that he is glad to see China-U.S. relations developing on a favorable momentum that the United States is committing to maintaining, and he also appreciates a good working relationship built with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

On the coming Olympic Games in Beijing, Yang expressed his welcome to Bush, who is set to attend the opening ceremony, and wished American athletes excellent performance in the competitions.

Bush said, in return, that he looks forward to visiting China to attend the Olympic Games' opening ceremony.