Chinese vice premier meets former US president Carter

BEIJING - Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday met former US President Jimmy Carter, calling for the common prosperity of the two countries.

Li recalled the establishment of China-US diplomatic relations in 1979, while Carter served as the US president.

Thanks to the joint efforts of several generations of leaders and people of the two countries, China-US relations have become mature and gone beyond the bilateral scope, Li said.

The major trend of the ties has remained strengthening China-US cooperation though various problems have cropped up, according to Li.

"As long as the two countries respect each other, manage differences and expand common ground, they can seek common prosperity," he told Carter.

Saying China is working toward building a well-off society, Li reaffirmed the country's commitment to deepening reform, further opening up, promoting sustainable and healthy economic development and promoting social progress.

The vice premier said China's modernization drive will bring more benefits to people and offer huge opportunities for China's cooperation with other nations.

Li called on Carter to make use of his influence and introduce the true China to US statesmen and people.

He also asked Carter to share with U.S. people the importance of China-US relations to the two countries, Asia and the Pacific and the whole world.

Carter hailed the progress of China and US-China relations over the past decades.

As an old friend of China, Carter said he is committed to boosting US-China cooperation and promoting the growth of bilateral relations.