Jiang spoke highly of Viacom's exchanges and cooperation with Chinese media in recent years.

It is most important for all countries to strengthen mutual understanding, Jiang said. Mutual understanding will make things easier in the world, he said.

Jiang said currently China and the United States have maintained frequent high-level contacts.

The two sides are making continued progress in exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and have kept close consultations on major international and regional issues of shared concern, which Jiang said is in their common interests and conducive to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.

Jiang said that over the past 30 years, exchanges and mutual understanding between the people of the two countries have been strengthened gradually, but not enough.

China needs to further understand the United States, while the United States also needs to learn more about China, he said.

Jiang said he hopes Viacom, as one of the world's largest media organizations, would help promote mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Redstone said many Americans know little of China, and he is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese media organizations, in order to enhance mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples.

Xu Guangchun, director of the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, and Li Zhaoxing, vice-foreign minister, attended the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency August 1, 2002)