Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Washington Tuesday that both China and the United States have gained from peaceful coexistence, and lost from conflicts. 

 

He said that over the past 32 years since China and the United States renewed contact in 1972, the two countries have benefited tremendously from bilateral cooperation, despite twists and turns.     

 

At the time the Shanghai Communique was issued in 1972, trade between China and the United States was virtually zero and "now, our two-way trade has exceeded 100 billion dollars," he added.

 

Wen made the remarks here in a speech delivered at a dinner hosted by nine American organizations -- the National Committee on US-China Relations, the US-China Business Council, the America-China Forum, the Asia Society, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Committee of 100, the Council on Foreign Relations, the US Chamber of Commerce and the US-China Policy Foundation.

 

Premier Wen arrived in New York Sunday on his first visit to the United States since taking office early this year. He arrived here late Monday and will travel on to the US northeastern port city of Boston Wednesday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2003)