Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong held talks with his US counterpart Dick Cheney in Beijing Tuesday evening.  

Bidding his warm welcome to the visiting US vice president, Zeng hoped that Cheney could see more and know more about China during his current visit as some changes have been taken place in China in the last decade, noting Cheney's first visit to China was in 1975 and the latest one was in 1995.

China attaches importance to Cheney's visit and he believes the visit will fruit in positive results, Zeng said.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao will meet with Cheney, according to diplomatic sources.

Beijing is the first leg of Cheney's tour in China and he is also scheduled to visit Shanghai after his stay in Beijing.

Zeng told Cheney that Shanghai was expecting Cheney's visit with a warm welcome.

Former US President Ronald Reagan addressed the Fudan University in Shanghai in the same season 20 years ago. Professors and students in the university were also expecting Cheney's upcoming visit, Zeng said.

Cheney said he was glad to visit China again and the US side also attaches importance to his visit.

President Bush was "pleased" with the relationship between US leaders and their Chinese counterparts such as Chinese President Hu Jintao. The two sides could do a lot of work jointly, Cheney said.

Cheney said he was expecting to discuss with Chinese side on some issues to further improve relationship between the two peoples.

Cheney arrived in Beijing earlier Tuesday afternoon on a three-day working visit to China as Zeng's guest.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2004)