Premier Wen Jiabao told senior US officials yesterday in Beijing that China and the United States continue to share wide common interests and the basis of co-operation.

The stable development of Sino-US relations is in the basic interestof both sides and also conducive to peace and development in the world, Wen said.

The Chinese premier made the remarks during a meeting with visiting US Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans and Secretary of Labour Elaine Chao.

Wen said the two countries should strengthen bilateral co-operation, appropriately deal with mutual concerns and push for the advancement of "constructive and co-operative relations."

Evans told Wen the United States is willing to strengthen economic and trade co-operation with China through constructive dialogue.

The commerce secretary started his visit on Monday, touring Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, before flying to Beijing.

Evans' visit to China comes on the heels of the China-US Joint Committee of Trade meeting in Washington where Evans and Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi discussed the importance of compliance to avoid disputes and amplify positive signals to investors and other trading partners.

Eight members of the President's Export Council joined Evans during the Beijing leg of the trip for high-level meetings with senior Chinese officials. They are discussing ways to increase US exports to China, according to a statement released by the US Embassy in Beijing.

And on Monday, China and US officials signed four letters of understanding to broaden co-operation in the areas of labour, employment and workplace safety.

"Secretary Chao's visit and the four signed agreements represent the US Department of Labour's most comprehensive engagement with China on labour issues ever," another US Embassy statement said.

Chao told Wen the four agreements lay a foundation for future co-operation between the nations that should strengthen exchanges in labour and social security sectors.

"These agreements are the next step in the department's ongoing engagement with China and include collaboration on several important labour issues involving mine safety, workplace safety, wages and pensions," Chao said.

(China Daily 06/23/2004 page1)