China and the United States on Tuesday pledged to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation on key global issues in a joint statement issued after talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and visiting US President Barack Obama.

Bilateral ties

The two sides highlighted the substantial progress in China-US relations over the past 30 years, and reached agreement to advance China-US relations in the new era, according to the statement.

The two sides believed that to nurture and deepen bilateral strategic trust is essential to China-U.S. relations in the new era. China reaffirms that it resolutely follows the path of peaceful development and a win-win strategy of opening-up, and is committed to promoting the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity. The US side reiterated that it welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China that plays a greater role in world affairs.

The two sides spoke highly of the important role of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues and recognized that the Dialogues offer a unique forum to promote understanding, expand common ground, reduce differences and develop solutions to common problems.

Both sides believed that the first round of the Dialogues held in Washington D.C. in July this year was a fruitful one and agreed to honor in good faith the commitments made and hold the second round in Beijing in the summer of 2010.

The two sides reiterated that they are committed to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st century, and will take concrete actions to steadily build a partnership to address common challenges.

Economy

The United States and China, the world's first and third largest economies, have pledged to rebalance each other's economy and move in tandem on forward-looking monetary polices for a strong and durable global economic recovery, said the statement .

"China will continue to implement the policies to adjust economic structure, raise household incomes, expand domestic demand to increase contribution of consumption to GDP growth and reform its social security system," said the statement.

The United States, in return, will take measures to increase national saving as a share of GDP and promote sustainable non-inflationary growth.

"To achieve this, the United States is committed to returning the federal budget deficit to a sustainable path and pursuing measures to encourage private saving," it said.

Recognizing the importance of open trade and investment to their domestic and the global economies, the two are committed to jointly fighting protectionism in all its manifestations.

The statement said that both sides commended the important role of the three G20 summits in tackling the global financial crisis, and were committed to working with other members of the G20 to enhance the G20's effectiveness as the premier forum for international economic cooperation.

Climate change

China and the United States are committed to working together and with other countries for a successful outcome at the Copenhagen summit next month, said the joint statement.

The two sides has held a constructive and productive dialogue on the issue and maintained that international cooperation is indispensible in dealing with climate change, which poses one of the greatest challenge of the time, the statement said.

Both sides concede that "the transition to a green and low-carbon economy is essential" and the clean energy industry will provide vast opportunities for citizens of both countries in the years ahead, said the statement.

Regarding the upcoming Copenhagen summit, the two countries expressed their willingness to strive for an agreed outcome based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.

The two countries also agreed that the outcome should include the emission reduction targets of developed countries and nationally appropriate mitigation actions of developing countries, adding that it should also substantially scale up financial assistance to developing countries, promote technology development, dissemination and transfer, and pay particular attention to the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable countries to adapt to climate change.

Nuclear non-proliferation

In the statement, China and the United States underlined their commitment to the eventual realization of a world free of nuclear weapons and reiterated their opposition to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

They promised to work together for a successful Review Conference of Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 2010, and committed to pursue ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) as soon as possible.

China attaches importance to the US initiative to hold a nuclear security summit in April 2010 and will actively participate in the preparations for the summit, according to the joint statement.

In the statement, the two sides called on Iran to "engage constructively" with the P5+1 and to "cooperate fully" with the IAEA to facilitate a satisfactory outcome.

"The two sides agreed that Iran has the right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and it should fulfill its due international obligations under that treaty," said the statement.

They emphasized that all efforts should be made to take confidence-building steps and to call on Iran to respond positively to the proposal of the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Meanwhile, the two sides also expressed the hope that the multilateral mechanism of the Six Party Talks would convene at an early date.

The two presidents reaffirmed the importance of continuing the Six Party Talks process and the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

The Chinese side welcomed the start of high-level contacts between the United States and the DPRK, said the joint statement.

Counter-terrorism

China and the United States also vowed to deepen counter-terrorism consultation and cooperation between the two countries on an equal and mutually beneficial basis.

The two sides promised they would boost joint efforts to combat transnational crime and criminal organizations as well as money laundering and the financing of terrorism, including counterfeiting and recovery of illicit funds.

The two countries would strengthen cooperation on criminal investigations and deepen collaboration in combating embezzlement, said the statement.

Meanwhile, China and the United States voiced support for the peace and stability in South Asia.

Both sides support the efforts of Afghanistan and Pakistan to fight terrorism, maintain domestic stability and achieve sustainable economic and social development, said the statement.

They also pledged support for the improvement and growth of relations between India and Pakistan.

Taiwan

The United States welcomes the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties and "more positive and stable" cross-Straits relations, said the joint statement.

Both sides underscored the importance of the Taiwan issue in China-US relations, it said.

The Chinese side emphasized that the Taiwan issue concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and expressed the hope that the US side will honor its relevant commitments and appreciate and support the Chinese side's position on this issue.

The US side stated that the United States follows its one-China policy and abides by the principles of the three China-US joint communiqués, said the statement.

The two sides reiterated that "the fundamental principle of respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity is at the core of the three Sino-US joint communiqués which guide China-US relations. Neither side supports any attempts by any force to undermine this principle," said the statement.

The two sides agreed that respecting each other's core interests is extremely important to ensure steady progress in China-US relations.

Military, scientific cooperation

China and the United States pledged to "take concrete steps" to advance "sustained and reliable" military-to-military relations in the future, said the statement.

The goal is to improve the Chinese and US militaries' capabilities for practical cooperation and foster greater understanding of each other's intentions and of the international security environment, it said.

Meanwhile, China and the United States recognize common interests in promoting the peaceful use of outer space and agree to enhance security in outer space.

Both sides also agreed to further collaboration to jointly research in the health sector and in the control of diseases, especially pandemics.

The joint research will include that on stem cells. Both sides will deepen cooperation on global public health issues, including the prevention, surveillance, reporting and control of A/H1N1 influenza, avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, said the statement.

The two sides will also enhance cooperation on food and product safety and quality, it added.

Both sides agreed to further upgrade the level of exchanges and cooperation in scientific and technological innovation through the China-US Joint Commission on Science and Technology Cooperation.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2009)