Chinese FM meets US Secretary of State

US Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterated on Friday in Washington that the United States firmly pursues one-China policy and abides by its commitments in the three joint communiques signed between the United States and China.

Powell made the assurances when meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who is here to attend the state funeral for former US president Ronald Reagan in the capacity of special envoy for Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Li told Powell that President Hu's decision to send him for the funeral is a manifestation of China's respect to former president Reagan and the importance the Chinese side has attached to bilateral ties.

Reagan had made great efforts to promote the improvement and development of China-US relations, Li said, citing the signing of a joint communique on Aug. 17, 1982, as an example.

Reagan himself also paid a six-day state-visit to China, which had greatly facilitated exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields, the Chinese minister recalled.

Li was pleased that China and the United States have been consulting and coordinating with each other effectively amid increasing exchanges and cooperation in various aspects.

Chinese FM meets US Secretary of State

The development of China-US relations is not only in the common interests of the two countries, but conducive to the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, the minister said.

Powell, on behalf of the US administration, thanked President Hu and Foreign Minister Li for delivering condolences over Reagan's passing away, and for Li's attendance to the funeral as President Hu's special envoy.

Expressing satisfaction over the development of bilateral relationship, the secretary said that the US side highly values the active and important role that China plays in international affairs and expects further increase in exchanges and cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral domains.

Li and Powell agreed to work together to further implement a series of common understandings reached between President Hu and US President George W. Bush and to strengthen mutual cooperation in all fields.

The state funeral for Reagan was held Friday in the National Cathedral in western Washington D.C. Reagan died on Saturday last week at the age of 93 after a decade-old struggle with Alzheimer's disease. He was US president from 1981 to 1989.