Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Before Their Meeting

SECRETARY CLINTON: Good afternoon. It’s once again a great pleasure for me to welcome the foreign minister. I’ve had the honor of working with him on a very regular basis ever since I became Secretary of State. We are preparing diligently for the upcoming state visit by President Hu Jintao. It’s very much anticipated and looked forward to. And both the minister and I feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that it continues the positive, cooperative, comprehensive relationship between our two countries.

So again, Minster Yang, welcome.

FOREIGN MINISTER YANG: Thank you. Thank you, Madam Secretary, for your very warm remarks and very sincere remarks as well. And we would like to thank President Obama, thank Secretary Clinton, and thank all my American colleagues for working so hard with the Chinese side for the preparation of the state visit to be paid by President Hu Jintao to the United States later this month. This visit will occur against the ever-evolving international situation and it will happen during the first year of the second decade of this great new century and will happen on the 40th anniversary of the opening of China-U.S. relationship.

I think China-U.S. relationship is on the right track. We are confronted with common challenges and we are enjoying common opportunities. It is in the best interests of China and the United States and the world for us to continue to work better so that our relationship will bring more benefits to both our two peoples and to the people of the world.

I believe that the preparation is proceeding very well, and my job here is to do my little part for a successful visit. And I thank the American Government, particularly the President and Madam Secretary and Mr. Donilon for their warm hospitality, and let’s all work hard for an even more beautiful tomorrow of China-U.S. relationship.

Thank you, Madam Secretary.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you very much, Minister. Thank you all very much.