On September 29, 2009, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.
Yang said since the inauguration of the new U.S. government, the Sino-U.S. relations have maintained a sound momentum of development thanks to the joint efforts of both sides. The two countries have conducted sound cooperation in addressing the global financial crisis and scored new development in bilateral areas including counter-terrorism, law enforcement, energy, environment and humanities. They have also maintained close communication and coordination on the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula and Iran, the South Asia issue, as well as climate change and other major international and regional issues. During President Hu Jintao's meeting with President Barack Obama in New York several days ago, both sides reached new important consensus on furthering China-U.S. relations. China is ready to work with the United States to continue implementing earnestly the consensus reached by the two heads of state and seize the opportunity to deepen cooperation and push forward bilateral ties in an active, cooperative and all-round manner. President Obama's China visit in November is a big event in bilateral ties. It is hoped that both sides will work together to ensure its success.
Yang pointed out that to respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns holds the key to ensuring healthy, steady development of China-U.S. relations. The issues related to Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as China's core interests. He hoped that the U.S. side will understand and respect China's concerns on these issues.
Steinberg said U.S.-China relationship is of global influence. The meeting between President Obama and President Hu in New York was very successful. Steinberg said the United States will strengthen cooperation with China to tackle a series of global challenges the two countries are encountering. The U.S. side attaches great importance to the China visit by U.S. President Barack Obama in November and is ready to work with China to ensure its success. The U.S. side understands China's concerns on issues concerning Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang and will continue to adhere to the one-China policy and respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Both sides also exchanged views on the nuclear issues of the Korean Peninsula and Iran, the South Asia issue, climate change and other international and regional issues.
On the same day, Vice Foreign Ministers Wang Guangya, Wu Dawei and He Yafei also held consultations respectively with Steinberg on China-U.S. relations and issues of common concern.