On the morning of January 11, 2011, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Beijing.

Hailing the positive momentum of bilateral relations, Yang said President Hu Jintao would pay a state visit to the United States and the development of bilateral relations was facing a major opportunity. "The two countries should have more dialogue, enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation to open up new prospects for China-U.S. relations," he said.

Yang emphasized China maintained a path of peaceful development, and remained committed to safeguarding and promoting world peace, stability and development. Facing the complex and changing international situation and emerging global challenges, China would strengthen communication, coordination and cooperation with the United States, and make joint efforts for peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, Yang said.

Yang reaffirmed China's principled position on the Taiwan issue.

Gates said the U.S. government was committed to developing bilateral ties and hoped to strengthen dialogue and mutual trust with the Chinese side. Gates said the United States was looking forward to Hu's upcoming visit and believed it would forcefully promote bilateral relations. China-U.S. cooperation, seen from a long-term perspective, enjoyed broad space for development, he added.