On July 26 to 29, 2006, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang paid an official visit to the United States, exchanging in-depth views with the US side on bilateral ties, enhanced cooperation between the two countries in security and law enforcement and other issues of common interest.

During his stay in Washington, Zhou held separate talks with US Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Treasury Henry M. Paulson and Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) John P. Walters. Zhou said China and the US should always handle the bilateral relationship from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, bearing in mind their common interests and respecting each other's concerns. The two countries should enhance dialogue and cooperation so as to push forward the development of constructive cooperative relations between them in an all-round way.  With the support of the two heads of state, China-US cooperation in security and law enforcement has deepened steadily in recent years and related agencies of the two sides have maintained frequent contact and conducted positive and pragmatic cooperation with a lot of achievements. Zhou emphasized that in the current international situation, enhanced cooperation in security and law enforcement not only conforms to the common strategic interests of the two countries, but is also conducive to peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole. The main purpose of his current visit is to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and advance bilateral cooperation in security and law enforcement.

The US and China share important common interests in security and law enforcement, US officials said, noting that US-China cooperation in these areas is an indispensable component of the whole bilateral relationship. The US government highly values the country's cooperation with China in security and law enforcement, they said, voicing satisfaction over the steady development of US-China cooperation in the areas. The US government appreciates China's active efforts in this regard and is looking forward to a deepening and further expansion of such cooperation with China, the officials said.

At the talks, the two sides agreed to measures to promote exchanges of law enforcement personnel, improve the consultation mechanisms between the countries, establish hot-line contacts between the two countries' departments concerned and ensure timely sharing of information. They also vowed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in man-hunting and repatriating criminal suspects, counter-terrorism, the fight against cross-border crimes, drug trafficking, money-forging, money-laundering, cyber crime and intelligence property infringement, and repatriating illegal migrants.

Zhou and Gonzales signed a joint statement between China's Ministry of Public Security and US Department of Justice on furthering law enforcement cooperation. The Chinese Ministry of Public Security also signed a range of cooperation documents with US departments concerned.

When meeting with Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Stephen Hadley, Zhou said the Chinese government attaches importance to fighting illegal migration and protecting intellectual property rights and has done a lot of work and scored remarkable effects in this regard. China will continue to strengthen efforts in these areas. He also urged the US side to take strong measures and earnestly solve China's concerns. The US side noted bilateral law enforcement cooperation has scored practical results, which is beneficial to the development of US-China relations. The US side understands and gives priority to China's concerns.

When meeting with Co-chairs of the "US-China Working Group" in the US House of Representatives and members of the US House of Representatives Mark Kirk and Rick Larsen, Zhou appreciated their care and support for the development of China-US relations, expressing hope that they and the "US-China Working Group" will make positive contributions to building mutual understanding and promoting China-US friendly relations and cooperation. Kirk and Larsen said relations with China are the most important external relations of the US side in this century. The "US-China Working Group" is committed to helping the US congress to have a comprehensive understanding of China and pushing for US-China ties. It is hoped that the US and China will strengthen exchanges and dialogue and expand cooperation.

Zhou also visited Portland and New York upon invitation and met respectively with former US President George Herbert Walker Bush, former Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Brent Scowcroft and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. He also visited New York Police Department's (NYPD) Fifth Precinct to learn about US policing at the grass-roots level.