Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday called on joint efforts to guarantee the healthy and steady development of the Sino-U.S. relations.

    "As there are now a lot of uncertain factors in the international political and economic situation, it is especially important to guarantee the healthy and steady development of China-U.S. relations," said Wen in a meeting here with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

    Wen told Rice China and the United States should handle the bilateral relationship with a strategic and long-term perspective, and jointly safeguard the "hard-earned" relationship through enhancing mutual trust and expanding cooperation.

    He hailed the generally good development of the relations, citing the active implementation of the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries on comprehensively promoting the China-U.S. constructive and cooperative ties this century, and the new progress of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

    "China is the largest developing country in the world, while the U.S. is the largest developed country. The good relationship is both beneficial to the two countries and the two peoples, and conducive to safeguarding world peace, stability and prosperity," Wen said.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) shakes hands with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 26, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Hailing that the United States and China have built a fruitful relationship with a stable foundation, Rice said the cooperation can help better resolve the complicated and difficult issues in the international system.

    The two sides have made continuous progress in strategic economic dialogue, the strategic dialogue and cooperation in various fields, which helped both sides handle specific issues from a perspective concerning the overall situation, Rice said.

    She said the United States was ready to continue to consolidate the basis of the two countries' relations and promote the development of bilateral ties.

    Rice arrived here on Tuesday morning for a two-day visit at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. She held talks with Yang this morning.