On July 22, 2009, local time, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Phuket, southern Thailand, exchanging views on international and regional issues of common concern.

During the meeting, Yang said that China is ready to work with the United States to continue earnestly implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state. China and the United States need to maintain high-level contact by proceeding from a strategic and long-term perspective and deepen exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, counter-terrorism, anti-proliferation, law enforcement, energy, environment and humanities, said Yang. He said the two countries should also keep close communication and collaboration on international and regional hotspot issues and such global issues as climate change and properly handle differences and sensitive issues, in order to push forward the positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship in the 21st century.

Clinton said that recently, the U.S.-China relations have enjoyed sound development and bilateral exchanges and cooperation have been fruitful. The U.S. hoped to closely cooperate with China to jointly deal with challenges and threats such as the global financial crisis and international terrorism and contribute to maintaining peace and stability of the region and the world at large.

During the meeting, the two sides also mentioned the upcoming first China-U.S. strategic and economic dialogue to be held in the United States. Both sides agreed to make joint efforts for positive outcome at the dialogue.