Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday said they will make joint efforts to prepare for meetings and exchanges of visits between top leaders of the two countries.  

Li and Rice agreed that the two countries will further strengthen coordination and cooperation in significant international and regional affairs.

The two officials made the remarks in a telephone conversation while Li was en route to Vladivostok, Russia, to attend an informal meeting with his Russian and Indian counterparts.

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2005)