The following is a speech made by Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies on March 12:

I want to thank the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the US-China Business Council (USCBC) for hosting this event. It is a real pleasure to meet friends, both old and new, here. Over the years, the CSIS and the USCBC have stood at the forefront of China-US exchanges and worked hard to promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between people of our two countries. And all of you present have done a great deal to push forward our relations. Let me take this opportunity to pay tribute and express sincere thanks to you for your efforts.

We are now in early spring. There is an old Chinese saying which goes, "A year's success starts from work in spring." It means that plowing and sowing in spring is crucial to agricultural production and harvest of the whole year.

The most important purpose of my visit is to make preparations for the meeting between President Hu Jintao and President Barack Obama in London in early April. Yesterday, I had good discussion with both Secretary Clinton and Secretary Geithner. We covered a wide range of issues, including the bilateral agenda and regional and international affairs, and reached much consensus. Both sides agree that solid ground work has already been done by the two sides for the very important London meeting between our two heads of state. Today I will have the honor of meeting President Obama and Vice President Biden. I'll also see National Security Adviser General Jones. Let me say that the two sides share the view that the upcoming meeting between our two presidents in London is of great significance for China-US relations in the new era. Both sides are committed to pushing forward this vitally important relationship between our two countries.

Early this year, our two countries held big celebrations of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. I attended these commemorative events with many old and new friends. A review of the past gives me a lot of food for thought. The tremendous progress of China-US relations goes well beyond what those who were most optimistic about this relationship 30 years ago ever expected. People want to know, in the 21st century when mankind faces major opportunities and challenges, what is the strategic foundation of China-US relations. This is a question that I often ask myself too.

I for one believe the strategic foundation of China-US relations lies in our major and unique responsibility of maintaining world peace and stability. As permanent members of the UN Security Council and as the world's largest developing country and largest developed nation, China and the United States have maintained close consultation, coordination and mutual cooperation in many international affairs. We have worked together to manage complicated and tough regional hotspot issues, fight terrorism, proliferation and transnational crimes, meet global challenges such as climate change, energy and the environment and undertake necessary reform in the international system based on justice and equity. One can hardly find an area where China-US cooperation is not needed. Comprehensive cooperation in the global sphere has tied our two countries and peoples to each other.