China said that it valued resigning US Secretary of State Colin Powell's positive efforts to boost Sino-US ties.

"Powell has paid a number of visits to China during his tenure and made positive efforts to improve and develop the Sino-US relations, of which we express our appreciation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told a regular news conference Tuesday.

The 67-year-old Powell submitted his letter of resignation to President George W. Bush on Friday.

Speaking of future Sino-US relationships, Zhang acknowledged that the two countries share extensive common interests and foundations for cooperation.

"We are ready to join hands with the US side in further enhancing our exchanges and cooperation in various fields and properly addressing each other's concerns, so as to move forward the Sino-US constructive and cooperative relations in the second term of President George W. Bush," Zhang said.