Senior Chinese leader meets ex-New York governor

BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with the United States to advance the stable and healthy growth of bilateral relations, senior leader Jia Qinglin said here on Tuesday.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks during a meeting with ex-New York State Governor George E. Pataki.

He said important progress was made last year in Sino-U.S. relations. President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush reached important consensus during their two meetings in 2007 on promoting constructive and cooperative relations.

Jia said the two nations enjoyed fruitful cooperation in economy and maintained sound consultations in major international and regional issues.

China was ready to work with the United States to increase mutual trust and properly solve disputes and sensitive issues, in an effort to promote the development of bilateral relations.

Jia noted China appreciated the United States' reiteration on many occasions of its adherence to the one-China policy, observance to the three China-U.S. joint communiques and opposition to "Taiwan independence" and to Taiwan's proposed "referendum" on UN membership.

He hoped the United States would work with China to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Jia briefed Pataki on China's principles on the climate change issue, saying the exchanges and cooperation in this field would add new, positive factors into the development of bilateral relations.

Pataki said the sound growth of U.S.-China relations accords with the interests of the two nations and the whole world at large. He believed that under the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral cooperation in climate change and other areas would be further enhanced.

Pataki, who was visiting to prepare an academic forum on climate change, wished China a successful Olympic Games.