Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks on Monday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Welcoming Rice at the beginning of their talks, Li recalled the consensus reached last year in Chile between leaders of the two countries on furthering bilateral constructive and cooperative relationship, and said he hoped both sides will make joint efforts to further implement the consensus.

Li said it is also very important for them to sit together to have discussions although they had phone conversations several times not long ago.

Li said he hoped both sides will exchange views on bilateral relations and other regional and international issues during this visit.

Rice said the phone conversations between them constitute an indication of the depth of the US-China relationship, and during this visit, they will discuss peace and security in Asia and the world to let them be "free from terrorism and the proliferation of mass destructive weapons".

She said both sides have "many interests in common", and they can "handle and address differences with respect".

Rice visited China in 2002 and 2004 respectively, as the national security adviser. But this is her first China tour since she became the top US diplomat in January.

China is the last leg of Rice's Asian tour, which has already taken her to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).