Rice With Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhao Xing

Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhao Xing

Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Beijing, China
March 21, 2005

FOREIGN MINISTER LI: (in Chinese) Madam Secretary, we are pleased and would like to welcome you officially to China. As a matter of fact, since the beginning of this year, you and I have had five pleasant conversations. And I think this being said, face-to-face meeting is also very important for business. And I'm very pleased to have this opportunity to exchange views with Madam Secretary on our bilateral relationship, as well as other regional and international issues of shared interest.

I think it is particularly important, a good thing, that last fall in Santiago, Chile, President Bush and President Hu Jintao have reached a full consensus on a number of important issues, and it is particularly important the two sides agree to join their forces to continue to build this constructive and cooperative relationship between our two countries. What is important is that you and I and others on our two sides need to join hands to further implement the consensus reached by our leaders. Thank you.

SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. Indeed we have talked several times, and I think that that is just an indication of the breadth and depth of the U.S.-China relationship. I am delighted to be here to have a chance to discuss the common interest that we have in a more peaceful and secure Asia Pacific, as well as a peaceful and secure world -- a world that is free from the threat of terrorism, free from the threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

I think that we have agreed that we have many interests in common, and when we have differences we will handle them and address them in an atmosphere of respect. And so I look forward to our further discussions.

FOREIGN MINISTER LI: (in Chinese) Thank you. I agree with you. Now its time for us to say thank you and goodbye to our friends from the media.

2005/T4-29

Released on March 21, 2005

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