Tang Jiaxuan, China's State Councilor, called for stronger Sino-US constructive and cooperative ties in an address on Wednesday at the National Committee on US-China Relations and US-China Business Council.

Tang said that although relations between China and the United States had a rather unfortunate experience before the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries today work closely together to promote a constructive and cooperative relationship.

"Through exchanges of visits, meetings at international gatherings, hotline conversation and correspondence, the leaders of our two countries have stayed in touch with one another on bilateral relations and major international or regional issues of mutual interest," Tang said.

Tang stressed that as peace, development and cooperation has emerged as the irresistible trend of history, China-US common interests have increased rather than decreased, the foundation for their cooperation has solidified rather than weakened and the importance of the relationship has become more pronounced rather than curtailed.

Besides the summit meeting in Santiago, Chile last year between Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush, the two countries have now carried out coordination and cooperation in the economy, trade, counter-terrorism, law enforcement, nonproliferation, as well as on the DPRK nuclear issue and the UN reform.

"I firmly believe that stronger China-US coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs will serve not only the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also world peace and development," Tang said.

Source: Xinhua