BEIJING - Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai on Tuesday said he expected China-US ties to continue to warm, saying that both parties can build their cooperative partnership through enhancing mutual trust and deepening cooperation.

"I am confident about the future of China-US ties," Cui told reporters in an interview on the first round of consultations on the Asia-Pacific region between the two countries.

Cui and US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will co-host the consultations in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday. The two countries will exchange views on the situation of the Asia-Pacific region, their respective policies on the area, as well as other issues of common concern.

As long as China and the United States abide by the principles of the three China-US joint communiques and the China-US Joint Statement, enhance dialogue and communication, strengthen mutual trust and cooperation and properly handle the differences, the two countries can continue to improve ties, Cui said.

Since President Hu Jintao visited the United States in January, China-US relations have entered a new phase in which both parties are committed to working together to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, Cui said.

China and the United States held their second annual high-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in April and the third Strategic and Economic Dialogues in May. Both parties have deepened cooperation in a variety of areas and coordinated on important international and regional issues, he said.

However, Cui said China and the United States have to properly handle issues such as the Taiwan question, Tibet-related questions as well as those concerning economic issues and trade as well as human rights.

The sound and steady development of China-US relations is beneficial to both parties and the world, Cui said.

There will be good chances to further develop China-US ties in the further, he said.

China and the United States should enhance mutual trust through conducting dialogues at different levels, Cui said.

The two countries, which shoulder broad common interests, as well as deepen cooperation in the bilateral, multilateral and global spheres. They also should properly handle differences and sensitive issues based on the principle of equality and mutual respect, he said.

Besides, people-to-people exchanges should be enhanced to solidify the social and civil basis for the development of China-US ties, he said.