China, U.S. vow to advance ties, expand co-op on global issues

BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States on Tuesday pledged to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation on key global issues in a joint statement issued after talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting U.S. President Barack Obama.

BILATERAL TIES

The two sides highlighted the substantial progress in China-U.S. relations over the past 30 years, and reached agreement to advance China-U.S. relations in the new era, according to the statement.

The two sides believed that to nurture and deepen bilateral strategic trust is essential to China-U.S. relations in the new era. China reaffirms that it resolutely follows the path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening-up, and is committed to promoting the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. The U.S. side reiterated that it welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China that plays a greater role in world affairs.

The two sides spoke highly of the important role of the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues and recognized that the Dialogues offer a unique forum to promote understanding, expand common ground, reduce differences and develop solutions to common problems.

Both sides believed that the first round of the Dialogues held in Washington D.C. in July this year was a fruitful one and agreed to honor in good faith the commitments made and hold the second round in Beijing in the summer of 2010.

The two sides reiterated that they are committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for the 21st century, and will take concrete actions to steadily build a partnership to address common challenges.