Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Wednesday, vowing to create a new situation of comprehensive development of bilateral ties.

Xi said China and Romania shared a traditional friendship. Romania was the third country to establish diplomatic ties with new China.

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, the China-Romania relations had always developed steadily regardless of the changes of international and domestic situation, Xi noted.

In recent years, leaders of both countries maintained close contact, and bilateral cooperation was fruitful in various fields. In 2004, the two countries established the partnership of comprehensive and friendly cooperation, Xi said.

"We are willing to work with the Romanian side to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, to cement the traditional ties and expand mutually beneficial cooperation," he said.

Diaconescu said Romania attached great importance to developing ties with China and firmly adhered to the one-China policy.

He said Romania was willing to take the celebration of the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties as a new starting point, to deepen all-round cooperation with China, and play a positive role in pushing forward the development of EU-China relations.

Earlier Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi held talks with Diaconescu. The two sides exchanged views on China-EU ties as well as other international and regional issues of common concern.

(Xinhua News Agency September 9, 2009)