Clinton calls for deeper US-China partnership

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called in Beijing on Saturday for a deeper partnership between the United States and China, with co-operation on economy and climate change two of the most urgent tasks.

"As we start the new administration of President Obama, we want to deepen and broaden our relationship," Clinton told Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

"We believe we have established a solid foundation but there is much work to be done.

"And it is in our view imperative that the United States and China cooperate on a range of issues from the economy to global climate change to development and so much else."

Yang expressed similar sentiments, saying China was looking forward to working with the United States, but he did not go into specifics in his introductory remarks in front of the media.

"The Chinese government highly values the China-US relationship," Yang said.

"We have always believed that the world's biggest developing country and biggest developed country... should and can establish a long-term relationship that enjoys sound and steady growth."

Clinton, on the final leg of a week-long Asian trip, was due to meet President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao later on Saturday.

First Published: Feb 21, 2009 09:27 IST