Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi (R) holds talks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Singapore

On November 14, 2009, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Singapore. The two exchanged in-depth views on bilateral ties, President Barack Obama's planned visit to China and the regional and international issues of common concern.

During the meeting, Yang said that Sino-U.S. ties have enjoyed a good start, and both countries have made it clear that joint efforts should be made to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship in the 21st century. The two sides have established a strategic and economic dialogue mechanism with the first such dialogue having been held successfully, laying a sound foundation for a long-term, healthy and stable development of Sino-U.S. relations, Yang said. The relations between the two countries will face new opportunities for further development in the coming years, and both countries should continue to implement the outcome reached during this year's exchange of high-level visits and consolidate the foundation for the development of such ties.

Describing Obama's forthcoming first state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao as being of great significance to further growth of Sino-U.S. ties in the new era, Yang said that Chinese President Hu Jintao is expected to exchange extensive and in-depth views with his U.S. counterpart Obama on China-U.S. relations, as well as major issues of common concern, and discuss the ways of how to further develop China-U.S. ties. The Chinese government attaches great importance to Sino-U.S ties, and is willing to seize opportunities, grasp the overall situation and work with the United States to enhance dialogues, exchanges and cooperation, by taking President Obama's visit as a new starting point, Yang said. The two countries should work together to push forward the positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-U.S. relationship in the 21st century.

For her part, U.S Secretary of State Clinton said that President Obama's visit to China marks a milestone in the history of U.S.-China ties, and President Obama looks forward to exchanging views with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on U.S.-China ties, as well as regional and global issues of common concern. The United States is willing to work together with China to expand pragmatic cooperation in all fields and further deepen the positive, cooperative and comprehensive U.S.-China relations, she added.

Yang invited Hillary Clinton to visit China next year, and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The two sides also discussed the issues such as the climate change, G20 cooperation and the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Iran.