On April 20, 2006, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with US Vice President Dick Cheney, Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens and National Security Advisor to President Bush Stephen Hadley respectively in the guesthouse where he stayed.

When meeting with Cheney, Hu said that this morning he and President Bush held successful talks. Both leaders agreed that China and the US are countries with great influence in the world and share wide strategic interests. Under the new international situation, both sides should strengthen dialogue, expand consensus, increase mutual trust, deepen cooperation, push forward China-US constructive and cooperative relations in the 21st century comprehensively and make new contributions to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney during their meeting in Washington April 20. (Photo: Xinhua)

Cheney said that the United States and China have established sound, solid and healthy relations. In today's world, the US-China relations are so important that he supports the establishment of US-China strategic relationship.

When meeting with Stevens and other members of the US Senate and House of Representatives, Hu expressed appreciation for their long-term support for the development of China-US relations. He noted that we attach great importance to the exchanges with the US Congress. More and more US parliamentarians have realized the importance of building China-US relations and raised a number of positive suggestions on furthering bilateral economic, trade, cultural and educational exchanges and cooperation. He expressed hope that they would continue to pay attention to China-US relations and contribute more to promoting the non-governmental contacts of the two countries and enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) talks with U.S. Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens during their meeting in Washington on April 20. (Photo: Xinhua)

Stevens said that 60 years ago as a member of the US 14th Air Force he participated in the battle against Japanese invaders in China. At that time he was the youngest member of the 14th Air Force, but today he is over 80 years old. He felt happy from the bottom of his heart to see China's progress and the development of US-China relations. The US-China relations have global significance, and peace and stability in the Asia Pacific region and the world, to a large extent, depend on the development of US-China relations. The parliamentarians also introduced their opinions on enhancing bilateral cooperation in such fields as energy, environmental protection and aviation to Hu Jintao.

During his meeting with Hu Jintao, Hadley said that President Bush thanks President Hu for his successful visit to the US. The visit has promoted the already existing positive relations between the US and China, demonstrating to the two peoples that to maintain sound relations between the US and China is beneficial to the two countries and their people.

Hu said that through the visit he has got great confidence that under the current international situation China and the US share extensive and important strategic interests. China and the US not only are stakeholders but also should be constructive partners. To strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries not only brings tangible benefits to the two peoples but also is of great importance to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region and the world at large. The healthy and stable progress of China-US relations benefits our two peoples and people of the world as well.

State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan was present at the meetings.