Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National
People's Congress (NPC), met a delegation headed by Henry J. Hyde,
chairman of the International Relations Committee of the US House
of Representatives, yesterday.
Li
said the NPC valued relations with the US Congress and China
invited more US congressmen to visit to enhance understanding and
friendship.
He
said China-US relations were generally developing well. During his
October US visit, Chinese President Jiang Zemin had a fruitful
meeting with US President George W. Bush.
Exchanges and cooperation in fighting terrorism, and trade and
economic accords were registering new progress and consultation and
coordination on significant international and regional issues were
proving effective.
Li
said these advances benefited the peoples of both nations and were
conducive to regional and world peace and stability.
Li
briefed the guests on China's stance against terrorism and the Iraq
issue.
Li
said both the Republican and the Democratic parties of the US had
demonstrated support for the improvement and development of
China-US ties and many friends in the US Congress had done a lot to
promote mutual understanding and friendship.
Hyde expressed his admiration for China's impressive achievements
since his last visit two decades ago. He emphasized that the US and
China had common interests and in the contemporary world should
focus on promoting ties and strengthen ties.
He
expressed satisfaction with China's cooperation in the war against
terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks
and thanked China for its support.
(Xinhua News Agency December 9, 2002)