China on Wednesday said it hoped to achieve even greater progress in Sino-US relations in the next 30 years.

Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi made the remarks while welcoming visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, who came to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations.

"The Sino-U.S. relations, although they have experienced twists and turns in the past, on the whole have moved forward," Yang said.

Facts proved that the development of Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations not only benefited the two peoples, but also helped regional and world peace and stability, he noted.

The growth of Sino-U.S. relations would make more contribution to regional development and world harmony, the minister said.

Echoing Yang, Negroponte said the relationship with China had achieved progress "enormously", and reached a level that "could not have been imagined 30 years ago".

Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya held talks with Negroponte.

"Since you have participated and experienced the normalization of Sino-U.S. ties, your attendance at the celebrating activities is of special importance," Wang said in his opening remarks.

Both Wang and Yang thanked Negroponte for his contribution to promoting the stable development of Sino-U.S. ties.

Negroponte told Wang that he believed the two countries will come along with a smooth development of relations in the future.

The two counterparts also attended a friendly table tennis game between Chinese and U.S. athletes on Wednesday afternoon to mark the historic "ping pong diplomacy" which took place over 37 years ago.

In 1971, a U.S. table tennis team paid a visit to China after many years of estrangement and antagonism between the two countries, shocking the entire world and also opening the door for China-U.S. people-to-people contacts.

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2009)