Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu spoke highly of the role U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick has played in developing Sino-U.S. relations, saying he has made positive efforts to promote the mutual understanding and trust between the two countries.

Jiang said at a regular press conference in Beijing Tuesday that Zoellick had attached great importance to the development of Sino-U.S. relationship and made positive efforts to promote it during his term of office.

Zoellick, the State Department's second in command, resigned Monday and reportedly would join the investment house Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

"We hope and believe that he will continue to play an active role in his new post to push forward the bilateral relations and reciprocal cooperation between the two countries," Jiang said.

Last year, Zoellick held two rounds of China-U.S. Strategic Dialogues with his Chinese counterpart Dai Bingguo, discussing a wide range of issues.

The Chinese side hopes to go on carrying out the strategic dialogue with the successor of Zoellick for the promotion of Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations, the spokeswoman said.

Source: Xinhua