On the afternoon of January 8, 2009, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte, who came to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-U.S. diplomatic relations.

Xi said the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and the U.S. 30 years ago was a milestone in history that started a new era of cooperation between the two countries and had profound and positive impact on the development of the international situation. Sino-U.S. relations made remarkable progress over the past three decades with the concerted efforts of generations of Chinese and American leaders and people from all walks of life. In the past eight years in particular, Sino-U.S. cooperation in all areas had further developed and coordination in international and regional issues had been fruitful, said Xi.

Continuously developing relations between China and the United States is in line with aspirations of the two peoples and historical trends, said Xi. Sino-U.S. relations are currently at an important stage of serving as a link between the past and future and are facing an opportunity for further development, Xi noted. He said China is ready to work with the U.S. to stay firm in the general direction of constructive cooperative relations, respect and accommodate interests and concerns of each other, strengthen dialogues, coordination and cooperation and properly handle differences and sensitive issues. China will work with the U.S. to push forward the relationship in the new historical period so as to bring benefits to the people of the two countries and the world, Xi said.

Hailing the positive progress made in U.S.-China relations in the past three decades, Negroponte said no bilateral relationship in the world was more important than U.S-China relations. The two countries have engaged in effective exchanges, coordination and cooperation in broad bilateral areas as well as on major international and regional issues, which brought enormous benefits to both countries and their peoples. Negroponte said the two countries had worked together to safeguard peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region and the world through their contacts. He said the two countries also shoulder special responsibility in coping with the global financial crisis and have worked together to contribute to the restoring of the confidence of the international community. Negroponte said U.S. administrations had long been committed to an engagement policy with China. He believed the new government would follow this policy and push for sustained, healthy development of bilateral ties.