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China's Hu extols 'progress' in US ties

Beijing - President Hu Jintao on Wednesday extolled "fresh progress" in China-US ties as he met a White House delegation that held talks here on thorny issues including North Korea, Iran and trade.

"China looks positively on the fresh progress made in China-US relations, and we are willing to work together with the United States in promoting the advance of healthy and stable China-US relations," Hu said.

His comments came in a meeting with visiting US Deputy National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon and National Economic Council Chairperson Larry Summers.

The two US officials concluded three days of talks during which they met various leaders including Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice Premier Wang Qishan, China's senior official on economic matters.

A statement released by the US National Security Council said the two sides held "candid" discussions on the North Korean and Iranian nuclear issues, and global trade. No other details have been released.

Both sides have hailed the state of bilateral ties following tensions earlier this year but also alluded to continuing differences of opinion.

While pledging cooperation, the US statement said Washington "will speak frankly and with respect when we disagree."

On Tuesday, Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo told the visiting Americans "quiet and in-depth dialogue is better than loud haranguing."

However, Hu told the US visitors bilateral cooperation had "constantly expanded and deepened" on a range of issues.

The US delegation's visit was the latest sign that the world's top two economies are putting months of tension - over everything from trade to Taiwan to Tibet - behind them as they prepare for a visit to the United States by Hu.

Relations soured this year over an array of issues including US arms sales to Taiwan and a meeting in February between President Barack Obama and the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

The two sides have also been involved in various trade disputes, including over China's currency policies.

Foreign critics claim China undervalues its yuan currency, giving Chinese exporters an unfair trade advantage.

But the tensions have eased considerably in recent months following several high-level meetings between the two sides, including between Hu and Obama, who has invited the Chinese leader to visit Washington at an unspecified time.

The Chinese officials who met with the US group included central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan, Finance Minister Xie Xuren and one of the country's top military officials, General Xu Caihou.

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