The US side is looking forward to expanding and deepening relationship with China, visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a press conference Monday.

Rice said US-China relations have developed "remarkably" in a way that would have been thought unthinkable a few years ago. "Today we are cooperating in changeable ways" on issues ranging from Asia to Afghanistan and Iraq, and from actions to the global war to fighting HIV/AIDS, she said.

Rice said during her meetings here, the Chinese side agreed that "expanding cooperation between US and China is essential to the interests of both countries, particularly as China is a state of major transformation".

As the United States rapidly develops relations with China, "we want to do so honestly and based on global standards", the standards that are important in areas like human rights, non-proliferation of mass destructive weapons, trade and economic affairs.

"On that basis and on basis of shared interests, we look forward to expanding and deepening relationship with China," Rice added.