Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Beijing Tuesday with US Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao and Chairman of the President's Export Council J.W. Marriott to discuss trade and labor issues.

With vast common grounds for cooperation, Wen noted, the steady growth of bilateral ties between China and the United States conforms not only to the interests of the two peoples, but is also conducive to world peace and development.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the growth of Sino-US relations and expects both to properly handle issues of the other side's concern by proceeding from the overall conditions of bilateral relations for the promotion of constructive cooperation between the two countries, Wen said.

Evans said the United States is willing to further strengthen economic and trade relations with China through constructive dialogues.

Chao said her talks with her counterpart, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, have been "candid and fruitful", resulting in four agreements in the fields of work safety and job training programs.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2004)