Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security John Robert Bolton in Beijing Tuesday.

Li said Sino-US relations were progressing well, noting that the meeting of Chinese and US presidents in Evian, France, paved the way for the further development of bilateral ties.

Consultation and cooperation on important issues concerning international security between the two sides were conducive to regional and global peace and stability, and helped to deepen the Sino-US cooperation, said Li.

Bolton commended the constructive role China had played in international affairs and agreed that the two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation on international peace and security, especially on important issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Monday, Bolton held talks with Chinese Vice-Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Zhang Yesui, exchanging views on the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and global security, multilateral arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation.

Zhang and Bolton also agreed to maintain contact on these issues.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2003)