China ready to further advance ties with US: Chinese FM

BEIJING - China is willing to work with the United States to continue to promote the development of Sino-US relations in 2014, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday.

To that end, China stands ready to work with the United States to implement the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama, make concerted efforts to build a new type of major country relationship, advance practical cooperation, and properly handle differences, said Wang in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

China and the United States will mark the 35th anniversary of their diplomatic ties on January 1, 2014, Wang said.

Over the past 35 years, Sino-US relations have achieved historic progress, which has brought enormous benefits to the two countries and two peoples and played an important role in promoting regional and global peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Echoing Wang's remarks, Kerry said that in the current international and regional situation, the two countries need to cooperate in an increasing number of areas.

In the new year, Kerry said, the United States hopes to boost exchanges and cooperation with China, remain committed to building a new model of major country relations and jointly cope with global challenges so as to exercise more positive influences on the world.

They also exchanged views on such issues as that concerning Japan, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.