BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- China and the United States kicked off a new year brimming with major events in bilateral relations, as senior officials announced here Tuesday a planned visit to America by Chinese President Hu Jintao later this year.

    During talks between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, both sides pledged to carefully prepare Hu's visit to the United States, the second trip he will make to America in less than 12 months.

    Both parties said that the upcoming visit of Hu Jintao to the United States is a "big event" in bilateral relations and is of great significance in promoting the constructive and cooperative partnership between the two countries in the new century.

    Zoellick, Washington's number two foreign policy official, said the series of meetings he had with Chinese officials Tuesday were "good and full discussions."

Premier Wen Jiabao shakes hands with US Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick during a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse Jan. 24. (Xinhua)

    Zoellick arrived in Beijing Monday evening after concluding a visit to Japan, the first leg of his two-nation Asian trip. Starting early in the morning on Tuesday, Zoellick met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and also held talks with Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.

    Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to further develop constructive, cooperative relations. They said bilateral relations developed at a "steady and positive" way over the past year.

    Zoellick's meeting with Wen was prolonged far beyond the scheduled time as they "exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional and international issues of common concern."

    During the media session, Wen said China attaches great importance to developing relations with the United States. China is ready to strengthen the bilateral strategic dialogue so as to deepen mutual understanding, enhance mutual trust and maintain the stable, healthy development of Sino-U.S. relations.

    Zoellick also met with China's top development planner Ma Kai and head of the banking regulatory commission Liu Mingkang.

    Before the meetings, Zoellick had breakfast with Zheng Bijian, a veteran Chinese researcher who is behind Zoellick's definition of China as a "responsible stakeholder."

    "I'm pleased to see that the 'stakeholder' concept generates good discussions in China," Zoellick said at a press conference before leaving Beijing for Chengdu Tuesday afternoon.

    Zoellick's current visit to China is part of the system of dialogue developed since Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush agreed last year to develop a constructive and cooperative Sino-U.S. relationship in an all-round manner.

    Hu and Bush met five times on different occasions in 2005 and maintained contact over a telephone hotline during the year.

    Zoellick and Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo held two rounds of strategic dialogue in August and November last year.

    According to sources from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Zoellick and his Chinese counterpart Dai held an "extensive and constructive" dialogue on major regional and international issues.

US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick sits with Foreign Minister of China Li Zhaoxing during talks at the Diaoyutai State Guest House Jan. 24. (Reuters)

    As he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the two sides expressed the willingness to further strengthen cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels.

    During the meetings, Zoellick expressed the wish that China would play a bigger and more positive role in the international system.

    Local analysts say the visit of Zoellick at the beginning of the year will help maintain a healthy momentum in bilateral relations in the new year.

    Sino-U.S. relations are developing in an unprecedented depth and breadth, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at an earlier press conference.

    Qu Xing, vice president of China Foreign Affairs University, said Zoellick's "stakeholder" concept means the U.S. government has reached a clearer definition of bilateral relations with China.

    "The common expectations of China and the United States on many major regional and international issues lead to a single choice --a constructive and cooperative relationship between the two countries," Qu said. Enditem