China's Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman Jiang Zemin (L) meets with US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Condoleezza Rice in Beijing, Capital of China, July 8, 2004.

Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin met here Thursday with US Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Condoleezza Rice.

Jiang said he is glad to meet Rice, adding that she looks younger than before.

Rice, who just arrived in Beijing Thursday noon as guest of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, said she is also happy to meet Jiang again and she brought the greetings from US President George W. Bush to Jiang.

She said at present, US-China relations are in good shape, expressing the hope that the two sides make joint efforts to further promote the bilateral relations.

It is reported that China is the second leg of Rice's three-nation Asian tour, which includes Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) as well. On Wednesday, she held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro and Foreign Minister Kawaguchi Yoriko. They discussed regional security issues.

Rice is expected to leave Beijing for Seoul Friday noon and then confer ROK leaders on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

Rice accompanied US President George W. Bush on a working visit to China in February, 2002.

Sourcve: Xinhua