Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen arrived in Washington early Wednesday for China's first high-level talks with the new US administration.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell welcomed Qian, and the two held a wide-ranging discussion.

While acknowledging differences, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Chinese Vice-Premier Qian Qichen stressed positive aspects of Sino-US relations.

Meeting with reporters before their talks, they said they hoped to expand ties and noted that Sino-US ties not only have a direct bearing on the peoples of the two counties, but also lives of millions around the world.

Powell said: ``We recognize that we disagree on important issues, but I believe the best approach in a relationship such as ours is to have candid talks on every aspect of our agreement and disagreement.''

Vice-Premier Qian said the United States and China ``undeniably have disagreements'' but they were not unbridgeable. He pointed out that the relationship ``can have healthy, steady growth'' if they address their problems with vision.

(china Daily 03/22/2001)