Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday, saying that China and the US should strengthen dialogue and cooperation.

China and the US should grasp their common interests and strengthen dialogue and cooperation to promote steady and healthy growth of their relations, said Li, who was attending the 13th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) here.

China and the US have a wide range of important common interests and the development of China-US relations is of great significance for maintaining and promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and even in the whole world, he said.

Rice said that the US side attached great importance to the development of its ties with China.

The US is willing, together with China, to unceasingly push ahead US-China ties, she said.

Rice reiterated that the US adheres to its stance on one-China policy.

Rice arrived here Thursday afternoon to attend the ARF gathering.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)