Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Colin Powell exchanged views on Sino-US relations and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula in Bangkok Monday.

During their meeting, Li noted that the Sino-US relations have been on a good track and that the two sides have conducted fruitful cooperation in many areas, which serves the fundamental interest of the people in both countries.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush met here Sunday on the sidelines of the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting. It was the second meeting between the two leaders this year.

Li described the meeting between the two presidents as "very good."

"The Chinese side is ready to work with the United States to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state," Li said. "We should constantly strengthen cooperation in areas of anti-terrorism, economic relations and trade and culture. China is ready to exchange views in a timely way with all parties concerned on the Korean nuclear issue."

China appreciates the US reiteration of the pledge on the one-China policy, the observance of the three Sino-US joint communiques and its opposition to the "Taiwan independence," and hopes the US side would match its words with concrete actions, he said. 

China and the United States are having dialogue over economic and trade issues, Li said. It will be much easier to resolve problems so long as the two sides treat each other as equals and take the concerns of the other into consideration, he said.

Powell said Sunday's summit meeting between China and the United States is very successful, adding that he would like to reiterate the pledges that President Bush has made to the Chinese side.

The US secretary of state said trade and economic cooperation is an important part of US-China relations. The US side understands the concerns of China and hopes to continue dialogue with China so that trade and economic cooperation between the two countries would grow more smoothly.

He also thanked China for the active role China has been playing in seeking a solution to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and Iraq.

He said the United States is willing to exchange views with all sides to push forward the process of the six-party Beijing talks.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2003)