Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met in New York on Monday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on bilateral and other issues of common concern.

The two ministers met on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly and a high-level meeting on Africa's development needs.

Thanks to joint efforts, the overall Sino-US relationship has developed soundly, said Yang. Bilateral relations are now at a crucial stage of building on the past and ushering in the future.

China stands ready to continue implementing in earnest the important consensus reached by the presidents of the two countries, proceeding from a strategic standpoint and a long-term perspective, respecting each other's differences and sensitive issues, and promoting the continued and stable development of bilateral ties in the United States' election year, Yang said.

Rice, for her part, agreed with Yang's evaluation of bilateral relations, adding that Washington highly values its relations with Beijing and is ready to work with the Chinese side to continue to advance bilateral ties.

Yang elaborated China's principled stance on the Taiwan issue, expressing the hope that Washington would abide by the principles enshrined in the three Sino-US joint communiques, and handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly.

The United States attaches importance to China's concerns and adopts a prudent attitude toward the Taiwan question, said Rice.

The ministers also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2008)