BEIJING, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu
Jintao on Sunday spoke over telephone with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush
about bilateral relations and major international issues of common concern.
The two leaders exchanged congratulations on
achievements that have been made in the development of bilateral relations since
the forging of diplomatic ties between China and the U.S. 30 years ago.
They expressed the hope that a series of events to
mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations would be
successful.
President Hu agreed with Bush's positive remarks on
China-U.S. relations and hailed his efforts to develop a constructive and
cooperative Sino-U.S. relationship.
In the new historical period of time, China and the
United States, through their joint efforts, will surely be able to stay firm in
the general direction of the China-U.S. constructive and cooperative
relationship and promote sound, stable, all-round and in-depth development of
bilateral ties, Hu noted.
Bush, for his part, said China and the United States
have engaged in good cooperation over the past 30 years which deserves
congratulation.
The U.S. president said he was pleased that he has
conducted satisfactory cooperation with President Hu during his presidency.
On the Middle East situation, Hu said China is
seriously concerned about escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and
worsening of the volatile situation in the Middle East and is deeply worried
about the humanitarian crisis taking place in the Gaza Strip.
China calls on all the parties concerned to stop
military operation and armed conflicts, promote the relaxation of tension in the
region and create conditions for a solution to the conflict by political means,
Hu said.
