China and the United States should adopt a pragmatic attitude to promoting a positive development of Sino-US relations, according to Zheng Bijian, chairman of the China Reform Forum, an important think-tank, at an international seminar on East Asian cooperation and Sino-US relations held in Beijing on Thursday.

"Research and development (R&D) can push forward the booming economy, so a sense of the overall situation and a pragmatic attitude can bring substantial results to the development of Sino-US relations," Zheng said.

"US President George W. Bush, State Secretary Condoleeza Rice and other high-ranking officials have showed their sincerity and willingness to take the overall situation of bilateral ties into consideration," Zheng added.

Zheng expressed his appreciation of Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick's speech on September 21 on Sino-US relations. But he also noted that he couldn't agree with all of Zoellick's views.

"Same as the other US dignitaries, Mr. Zoellick, also shows a certain bias towards the Communist Party of China (CPC) and a socialist system with Chinese characteristics," he said.

To both sides, Zheng said, the China-US relations is of great importance and complexity. "The sound development of China-US relations is essential to the everlasting peace and common prosperity of the world," he said.

"Practice has once again proven that only two-way interaction and active communication can eliminate doubt and enhance mutual trust, so as to push forward the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties," Zheng added.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)