U.S. Deputy State Secretary Robert Zoellick said in Beijing Tuesday that the "stakeholder" concept has provided a "sense of direction" for the development of U.S.-China relations.

In his speech in New York on Sept. 21, 2005, Zoellick proposed that the United States step up efforts to make China a "responsible stakeholder" in the international system.

As the initiator of the "stakeholder" concept, Zoellick said he is pleased to see his concept has generated some lively discussion in China, setting a standard for the two nations to work together on global issues.

Zoellick, who arrived here Monday evening for a three-day visit, said he had "good discussions" with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and other senior officials in the morning. They exchanged views on a wide range of topics including bilateral ties, trade and the economy, energy cooperation and the Korean Peninsula nuclear issues.

He suggested that China could "play a very positive role in the international system".

He also discussed with Chinese officials the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the United States in April, and met with

Chinese people working with NGOs and talked about China's rule of law.

On Tuesday evening, Zoellick traveled to Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, where he will visit a panda research center and meet with senior local government officials.

Zoellick said he hoped his visit to China's inland provinces would give him a rich insight into China's overall development and its internal challenges.

China is the second leg of Zoellick's three-nation tour. Zoellick will leave China for the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. He started his tour in Japan.

Source: Xinhua