On June 1, Hu and Bush will meet in Evian, France, Zhang said, adding that China considers the meeting, during which the two sides will discuss many issues, very important.

Sino-US relations have been maintaining good momentum.

The United States, as the world's largest developed country, and China, as the world's largest developing country, share a great deal of common ground with regard to safeguarding world peace and promoting global development, she said.

The two countries, as permanent members of the UN Security Council, share a common interest in resolving some important international issues such as the Iraq issue and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

With a view to maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world, the two countries attach great importance to bilateral relations, she said.

Leaders from the two sides have decided to push forward the constructive relations of cooperation, and the two sides have made a great deal of effort in this regard.

The two countries do have differences, and these differences should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect.

Sino-US relations are of great importance to world peace and stability, and China hopes that bilateral relations will precede smoothly, she said.

SARS will not disrupt China's economy

The SARS epidemic will not disrupt China's economic growth despite its impact, according to Zhang Qiyue.

The outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) has had some impact on China's economy, but the favorable conditions for China's economic development still exist.

China's economy is currently developing steadily, and gross domestic product (GDP) in April saw rapid growth, she added.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the impact of SARS on China's economy. The State Council, the country's cabinet, has convened several times to address economic growth in the context of the fight against SARS.

Zhang said that, although the number of SARS cases reported in China has decreased recently, the whole nation should remain vigilant and take further steps to minimize the impact of the epidemic and, at the same time, to maintain and promote economic growth.

Sino-Russian energy cooperation to promote ties

Joint energy projects will promote a Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation, Zhang said.

China and Russia signed a general agreement Wednesday on the main principles and understandings for a long-term contract to supply oil to China via a China-Russia oil pipeline.

Supply will begin in 2005 and volume will be 20 million tons annually for the first five years and 30 million tons annually from 2010.

Zhang said China would work together with Russia to carry out the oil pipeline project to benefit the people of the two countries.

She said bilateral relations were very good and high-level exchanges were frequent, adding that Chinese President Hu Jintao was currently paying a state visit to Russia.

Both nations had very deep mutual trust, Zhang said, while trade volume had increased for four consecutive years and last year jumped to a record-breaking US$12 billion.

Zhang said both sides believed economic cooperation had great potential.

Chinese FM to attend ARF meeting in Phnom Penh

Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing will attend a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF) to be held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, in June, said Zhang Qiyue.　　

The one-day meeting would discuss the international situation and the future development of the ARF. The ARF's activities in the coming year will also be discussed.

The forum is a mechanism with 23 members and the foreign ministers of many countries would attend the June meeting.

(China.org.cn May 30, 2003)