President Hu Jintao yesterday (Tuesday local time)?highlighted the common aspirations and strategic interests shared by China and the US while calling for joint efforts to enhance relations.

 

The Chinese leader called for deepening Sino-US ties at a dinner hosted by Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire ahead of a White House summit on Thursday with US President George W. Bush.

 

The dinner was at the US$100-million lakeside mansion of Bill Gates, chairman and founder of Microsoft; and among the invitees were more than 100 political and corporate leaders, including executives of Boeing, which Hu was scheduled to visit on Wednesday.

 

"Today, many cargo ships are busy crossing the Pacific Ocean, laden with the rich fruit of our strong trade ties and friendship between our two peoples," Hu said.

 

"I am sure that with the further deepening of China's reform and opening up, we are going to see even broader prospects for economic cooperation and trade between China and Washington State and China and the US as a whole."

 

Despite differences in social systems and cultural traditions, Hu said, China and the US pursue the same goal of promoting economic and social development and making life better for their peoples.

 

"We also share common strategic interests in a wide range of areas, particularly in maintaining world peace, promoting global economic growth, combating terrorism and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," he said.

 

He stressed that bilateral ties will realize reciprocal and win-win results as long as the two nations view and handle their ties from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, build on common strategic interests, and enhance exchanges and cooperation with mutual respect and on an equal footing.

 

As the latest sign of closer bilateral cooperation, the US and China on Tuesday renewed an agreement on cooperation in science and technology.

 

The five-year extension of the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement will enable the two nations to continue exchanges of scientific and technical knowledge, and to work on joint projects, a State Department statement said.

 

In an earlier meeting with Gates at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Hu reassured his host that China is serious about intellectual property rights (IPR) protection.

 

"Regarding IPR protection, it's not only needed by China as it opens up more to the outside world and improves the investment environment, it is also needed as we strengthen our innovation ability."

 

"We have already improved protection of intellectual property rights through laws. We will seriously keep our promise."

 

Gates expressed his appreciation for the Chinese government's efforts in IPR protection.

 

Microsoft and China's National Development and Reform Commission on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in software in the next five years.

 

At Microsoft Corp's campus, Hu said he admired what Bill Gates had achieved.

 

"You, Mr. Bill Gates, are a friend of China. I'm a friend of Microsoft," Hu said through a translator.

 

"Also, I use the operating system produced by Microsoft every day," he added, to laughter.

 

Gates responded: "Thank you, it's a fantastic relationship," and then quipped: "And if you ever need advice on how to use Windows, I'll be glad to help."

 

Hu accompanied by Gates, company CEO Steve Ballmer and an entourage of Chinese dignitaries witnessed business technology demonstrations and toured Microsoft's Home of the Future, which features experimental technology that might someday be used in people's living spaces.

 

Hu, who was later greeted by elementary school children from Seattle's John Stanford International School, wrote in Chinese using a Tablet PC: "Long live Sino-American friendship."

 

In her meeting with Hu, Gregoire suggested that China open a trade office in Washington State.

 

Two-way trade in 2004 between China and Washington State grew 400 percent from 2000, reaching US$20.3 billion, making China the state's third-largest trade partner after Japan and Canada.

 

After his meeting with the governor, Hu addressed a closed-door meeting of 250 members of Seattle's Chinese community.

 

Those present said Hu told the group he hopes his meeting with President Bush would improve the dialogue between the two countries.

 

The Sino-US relationship, as one of the world's most important bilateral ties, is not just a matter for the two countries, Hu said.

 

"Better relations between the two countries and the two peoples are of significance to peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," he noted.

 

(China Daily April 20, 2006)