CHINA / National

China, US 'share same aspirations'
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-20 06:35

President Hu Jintao on Tuesday (yesterday Beijing time) highlighted the common aspirations and strategic interests shared by China and the United States while calling for joint efforts to enhance relations.

The Chinese leader called for deepening Sino-US ties at a dinner hosted by Washington state Governor Christine Gregoire ahead of a White House summit on Thursday with his US counterpart George W. Bush.

The dinner was at the US$100-million lakeside mansion of Bill Gates, chairman and founder of Microsoft; and among the invitees were more than 100 political and corporate leaders, including executives of Boeing, which Hu was scheduled to visit on Wednesday.

"Today, many cargo ships are busy crossing the Pacific Ocean, laden with the rich fruit of our strong trade ties and friendship between our two peoples," Hu said.

"I am sure that with the further deepening of China's reform and opening up, we are going to see even broader prospects for economic co-operation and trade between China and Washington state and China and the United States as a whole."

Despite differences in social systems and cultural traditions, Hu said, China and the United States pursue the same goal of promoting economic and social development and making life better for their peoples.

"We also share common strategic interests in a wide range of areas, particularly in maintaining world peace, promoting global economic growth, combating terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," he said.

He stressed that bilateral ties will realize reciprocal and win-win results as long as the two nations view and handle their ties from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, build on common strategic interests, and enhance exchanges and co-operation with mutual respect and on an equal footing.

As the latest sign of closer bilateral co-operation, the United States and China on Tuesday renewed an agreement on co-operation in science and technology.

The five-year extension of the Science and Technology Co-operation Agreement will enable the two nations to continue exchanges of scientific and technical knowledge, and to work on joint projects, a State Department statement said.
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