During the visit the leaders of two countries reached a series of important consensus including charting course of China-U.S. relations in the new era. Their Joint Statement acknowledges concerted efforts to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit between China and the US. In my view, the following points are very crucial to understand this visit:

1. In the second decade of the 21st century, the international situation continues to undergo profound and complex changes. Both China and the US are at an important historical turning point of economic and social transformation domestically. It is historically and practically meaningful that the two countries agreed to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

It is also the natural result of the constant development of bilateral ties, as well as the deeper and further development of positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship. By doing this, we keep with the trend of the times and are up to the common wish of the peoples both from the two countries and from the world.

Therefore, China underscores the need to develop a political relationship with the US that features equality, mutual trust and the precept of seeking common ground while reserving differences, to deepen their comprehensive, cooperative, mutually beneficial and win-win economic ties, to cooperate worldwide to cope with challenges, and to promote friendly exchanges between the two peoples.

Both China and the US shall take a strategic, long-term and an overall perspective, strengthen dialogue, communication and cooperation; respect the core interests of each other, handle sensitive issues in a proper manner, and promote sound and steady growth of bilateral ties.

2. During his visit to the US, President Hu Jintao reiterated that China would continue to follow the path of peaceful development. By following this path, China would continue to perfect its own system in a peaceful manner through constant reform, hard and persevering working, long-lasting friendship with other countries, and to achieve national development goals through equal and mutually beneficial cooperation. Following the path of peaceful development is a solemn commitment China made to the international community which China will unswervingly stick to. China not only says so, but also does so.

In recent years, China's development, especially the question how China would handle its relationship with the rest of the world, is attracting more and more attention from the world. Some people say that China is becoming "arrogant". Actually, sticking to the principle is by no means equal to being arrogant.

It is important to see whether one is standing on the side of righteousness when addressing international relations. The one standing on the side of righteousness will certainly appear confident and "proud". Maintaining national sovereignty, security and development interests, promoting world peace and development is the duty of China's diplomacy. This is the righteousness of China's diplomacy.

3. Respectively, as the largest developing country and developed country in the world, both China and the US have great and common responsibilities in maintaining world peace and promoting world development.

To build a sound and steady China-US relationship in the 21st century is not only conducive to the common interests of the people of the two countries, but also responsible for the world history. The US reiterates in the Joint Statement that it welcomes a powerful, prosperous and successful China with a bigger role in world affairs. China welcomes the US as an Asia-Pacific country that contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

China always upholds an open and inclusive regional cooperative policy, respects the interests and existence of the US in Asia-Pacific region. This region is featured with most diversified interests, and we do believe that harmonious co-existence, cooperative and win-win situation is in accordance with the benefits of the two countries and other regional countries.

Therefore, China welcomes the US to participate in ASEAN Summit and supports the US to develop cooperation with other countries. China and the US enjoy broad space for cooperation at the regional level. China is willing to work together with US to promote peace, stability and prosperity of Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.