Special Report: 30th Anniversary of Sino-U.S. Diplomatic Relations    

    　BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said Thursday he was confident of a bright U.S.-China future under the new American administration.

    "I look forward to watching the U.S-China relationship develop in the coming years, and feel confident that it will continue to flourish under the new American administration," Negroponte told an audience of about 100 people at a breakfast meeting Thursday morning.

    The meeting was hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham-China).

    Negroponte, who arrived in Beijing Tuesday evening, was attending activities marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations, which fell on Jan. 1.

    He applauded the unveiling of China's policy of reform and opening in 1978 as a "pivotal moment" for the U.S.- China relationship that has grown and transformed over the past 30 years.

    In his ten-minute address, Negroponte said the almost unprecedented speed of development in the bilateral relations over the past three decades sent a message to governments throughout the world that legacies of isolation and mistrust can be overcome by visionary actions.

    Later Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said cooperation and common interests of the two sides have reached an unprecedented level.

    Differences and conflicts of the two countries would be eclipsed when compared with their common interests and the vital role they should play in maintaining global stability and development, Qin said at a regular press conference.

    Even today the two sides do not see eye-to-eye on every topic, however the commitment to discuss the differences and work through them is "a sign of maturity and strength" of the relations, Negroponte said at the breakfast meeting.

    Responding to a question, Negroponte said one of the legacies of the Bush administration was going to be the progress achieved in the U.S.- China relations. He said he believed that one of the important things in the U.S. current political transition period was trying to ensure the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) and other bilateral political dialogues would go on.

    The biannual SED, the highest level of bilateral economic dialogue, has produced more than 180 cooperative deals since its inception in 2006.

    Under the SED, the economic leadership of the two countries also exchanged views on how to address the bilateral and global financial and trade problems.

    Asked to comment on the relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, Negroponte reiterated the U.S. adherence to the one-China policy.

    Though the cross-Straits relation was "delicate and sensitive," he said progress has been made in the past year, particularly since the leader's election in Taiwan last March.

    "We are in a hopeful period in regard to the issue of Taiwan Straits," he said

    Negroponte met with several senior Chinese officials Wednesday and attended a friendly ping pong game between Chinese and U.S. players Wednesday afternoon to mark the historic "ping pong diplomacy" which broke the ice between the two nations 38 years ago.

    In 1971, nine U.S. ping pong team members became the first group pf Americans to visit the Chinese mainland since 1949. Their visit also paved the way for the former U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972.

    Wednesday's ping pong game was "a great deal of fun," Negroponte said, adding a paddle given by a veteran Chinese player was an important souvenir of his visit. 

China hopes for greater progress of Sino-U.S. relations

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) meets with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte in Beijing, China, Jan. 7, 2009. China on Wednesday said it hoped to achieve even greater progress in Sino-U.S. relations in the next 30 years. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

　

   BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday said it hoped to achieve even greater progress in Sino-U.S. relations in the next 30 years.

    Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the remarks while welcoming visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, who came to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations. Full story

Chinese vice foreign minister holds talks with Negroponte

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya (3rd R) holds talks with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte (2nd, L) in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 7, 2009.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

     BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya held talks with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte Wednesday morning.

     "Since you have participated and experienced the normalization of Sino-U.S. ties, your attendance at the celebrating activities is of special importance," Wang said in his opening remarks. Full story

Interview: Henry Kissinger foresees brighter future for U.S.-China relations

     NEW YORK, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- The U.S.-China relations will enjoy steady and continuous progress in a long period to come, as many problems in the world today require the two countries to cooperate in many ways, former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger said here on Monday.

Stephen A. Orlins (R2), president of the United States National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), Henry Kissinger (R3), former U.S. secretary of state, attend a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, the United States, Jan. 5, 2009. NYSE kicked off its trading session on Monday with the special ceremony. Orlins rang the market's Opening Bell. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

     "Our ties in the next 30 years could make the same progress as they had made in the last 30 years, that could be good for the world, be good for our countries," Kissinger told Xinhua in an exclusive interview, as China and the United States are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations this month. Full story