On January 24, 2006, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with US Deputy Secretary of State Robert B. Zoellick in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Li said that last year President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush reached important consensus on comprehensively advancing bilateral constructive cooperative relations in the new century, which has strongly pushed for steady development of bilateral relations and the cooperation in bilateral and multilateral areas. In the new year, China would like to continue efforts with the US to actively implement the consensus reached by the leaders of both sides and push their constructive cooperative relations for further development.

Zoellick said that the US attaches great importance to developing relations with China, welcomes China to play a greater role in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development and would like to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation in multilateral areas with China.

Li indicated that to oppose and contain "Taiwan independence" and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits conforms to common interest of both countries. China hopes that the US will abide by its commitment of adhering to the one-China policy observe the three China-US joint communiqués and oppose "Taiwan independence".

Zoellick reaffirmed that the US government will continue pursuing the one-China policy.

Both sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest.