China and the United States have reached an important consensus on combating terrorism and illegal immigration, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao in Beijing Tuesday.

Liu made the remarks at a regular news conference when asked about the visit of U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, who visited China from April 2 to 4 at the invitation of Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang.

During his China tour, Chertoff met with Luo Gan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and talked with his Chinese counterpart Zhou Yongkang.

Chertoff also met with senior officials of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, and the Ministry of Justice.

The two sides exchanged views on anti-terrorism cooperation, fighting "East Turkistan" terrorist forces, the campaign against illegal immigration, arresting and repatriating suspects, security cooperation for the Olympic Games, air police cooperation and law enforcement training, Liu said.

China and the United States will severely punish organizers of illegal immigration, and speed up the repatriation of illegal immigrants.

The two sides will also cooperate on border management and on combating fake visas and passports, the spokesman said.

Source: Xinhua