President's trip to 'set the tone' for future relationship

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) shakes hands with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi as she welcomes him before a bilateral meeting at the State Department in preparation for the upcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao, in Washington, Jan 5, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON / BEIJING - Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and his US counterpart Hillary Clinton vowed on Wednesday that their countries would cooperate closely, despite differences on China's currency and other issues.

"We are preparing diligently for the upcoming state visit by (Chinese) President Hu Jintao," scheduled for January 19, Clinton said as she posed for photographs with Yang at the State Department.

"It's very much anticipated and looked forward to. And both the minister and I feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that it continues the positive, cooperative, comprehensive relationship between our two countries."

As the bilateral relations have experienced some downturns last year over US arms sales to Taiwan, Chinese currency valuation and regional security issues, the summit is expected to set the tone for the future relationship.

Analysts said the two major powers will face more challenges this year - especially regarding trade frictions and regional security issues, such as tensions over the Korean Peninsula and South China Sea.

"We are confronted with common challenges and we are enjoying common opportunities. It is in the best interests of China and the United States and the world for us to continue to work better," Yang said.

The visit will "set new directions" for the development of bilateral ties, he said.

Related readings:  US, Chinese officials meet in US  Obama meets Chinese FM on relations

The situation on the Korean Peninsula, Iran, efforts to fight climate change and the US arms sales to Taiwan came up during Clinton's two-hour "lengthy discussion" with Yang, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters.

Crowley said both Beijing and Washington share the interests of ensuring stability on the Korean Peninsula. "We both want to see a reduction of tension," he added.

Crowley said the pair also discussed "maritime issues".

He gave few details about each issue, however.

Yang has agreed with US National Security Advisor Tom Donilon on Tuesday at a White House meeting that US President Barack Obama hinted that both sides should "avoid destabilizing behavior" on the Korean Peninsula issue.

The top Chinese diplomat arrived in the US on Monday to prepare for Hu's trip.

Also on Wednesday, Yang attended a breakfast meeting hosted by the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank, and exchanged views with US experts and scholars on the bilateral ties.

"Yang is also paving way for relations between China and the US in the new decade," said Wu Jianmin, a senior former diplomat.

It has been noted that this time Washington "attaches more importance than that for previous visits" of Chinese leaders, partially due to the gloomy US economy and a bigger role of China on the world platform, he said.

Du Ping, a commentator for the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, said Yang's visit - and especially his talks with Clinton - has set an encouraging tone for the Chinese president.

"Compared with the fierce dispute between the two sides on the South China Sea issue last year in Vietnam, the atmosphere of the meeting between Yang and Clinton this time reflects much improved China-US relations," he said.

Yang in the summer warned some countries not to "internationalize" the territorial dispute over the South China Sea that Beijing faces with its neighbors, following Clinton's comments over the issue at a regional security meeting.

Yang said China-US relations are back on the right track. "To be more accurate, I believe the relations are recovered," Du said.

Thus, President Hu's visit will be a high-profile one, and the four-day visit of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates to Beijing starting on Sunday will be another rehearsal for that, he said.

Agencies contributed to this story.