United States President George W. Bush (R) meets with Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi at the White House in Washington April 12, 2006.

U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday in Washington that the success of the 17th meeting of the U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) would help reduce trade frictions between the two countries.

During a meeting in the White House with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, who had just co-chaired the 17th JCCT meeting, Bush praised the Chinese side's efforts to solve the problems in U.S.-China trade.

He said he looked forward to the upcoming visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao, adding that he expected to exchange views with Hu on U.S.-China relations and other major issues of common concern.

Bush also reaffirmed his persistent position on the Taiwan issue.

On her part, Wu said that the 17th JCCT meeting had achieved constructive results through both sides' concerted efforts, which would be conducive to the settlement of bilateral trade disputes and would consequently promote the healthy development of Sino-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.

She told Bush that during the meeting, China had agreed to conditionally resume beef imports from the United States, and Chinese entrepreneurs had also signed a number of business contracts with their U.S. counterparts.

Wu also said the upcoming visit by President Hu would be a key event in U.S.-China ties and be of far-reaching significance to the steady development of the relationship between the two nations.

She stressed that China attached great importance to Hu's visit, and hoped it would turn out to be a success through joint efforts.

Source: Xinhua