China and the United States reached broad consensus on bilateral, regional and international issues in their sixth strategic dialogue held in Washington on Monday.

The meeting, co-chaired by visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, focused on how to keep the healthy and stable momentum in the development of China-U.S. relations and how to enhance the two-way cooperation and coordination on regional and global issues.

Dai, who is paying a weeklong working visit to the United States for the dialogue, noted that this round of dialogue was taking place at an important time as the two countries are going to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.

The past three decades, he said, has witnessed continued development of China-U.S. relations and the unceasing enrichment of the strategic foundation of bilateral ties.

Dai said that the link of common interests in bilateral relations has become increasingly firm while a new situation of mutual integration of interests has developed.

Dai noted that over recent years, the definition of China-U.S. relations has become more specific, that the global significance of China-U.S. relations has become more conspicuous, that the channel for dialogue between the two countries has been better unclogged, that the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries has become more extensive, and that the social basis for China-U.S. friendship has become firmer.

So far, China-U.S. relations have entered a crucial stage which serves as a link between past and future, and have faced both new challenges and news opportunities, he said.

Dai said the two sides should hold on to the general direction of relations of constructive cooperation with a strategic and long-term vision, strengthen high-level exchanges and dialogue to keep enhancing strategic mutual trust, properly handle the Taiwan issue to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, extend the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries with a developing vision and a open-minded way of thinking, strengthen the exchange of view and coordination between the two countries on major regional and international issues, properly handle any difference and sensitive issue between the two countries, and develop nongovernmental exchanges in an in-depth way.

Negroponte said the U.S. side is heartened by the development of U.S.-China relations in political, economic, cultural, educational and military aspects over the last three decades, which witnessed the establishment of sound contacts between the leadership of the two countries, the unprecedented vigorous two-way trade and commerce, the deepening exchange between the two peoples and fruitful cooperation on the international stage.

He noted that the U.S.-China relations have brought concrete benefits to the peoples of the two countries and people in the rest of the world as well, and more and more Americans now support the development of U.S.-China relations.

Negroponte said that U.S.-China relations, which have become one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, need to be steadily handled and be fostered with great care by both countries.

He reaffirmed that the United States will always stick to its one China policy.

Dai and Negroponte agreed that at a time when the world is undergoing a lot of profound changes, the two countries need to forge greater cooperation to jointly deal with the international financial crisis, climate change, terrorism, nonproliferation, energy security and other challenges, so as to promote global peace, stability and development.

They also agreed that since its creation three years ago, the China-U.S. strategic dialogue mechanism has become a platform for sound communications on in-depth, strategic and important issues in bilateral relations, and it has contributed to enhancing mutual understanding and strategic trust, promoting bilateral cooperation in all fields and accumulating valuable experience.

Both sides believe the two countries should make efforts to safeguard and develop the China-U.S. strategic dialogue mechanism and further top its potential to push forward China-U.S. relations.

The China-U.S. strategic dialogue mechanism was launched in August 2005 in accordance with consensus of the heads of state of the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2008)