On September 19, Assistant Foreign Minister He Yafei met with a delegation of U.S. journalists organized by the Better Hong Kong Foundation.

He expressed welcome for U.S. journalists' visit, hoping that they will gain a deeper understanding of China so as to make comprehensive, objective and unbiased reports on the country's development. He hoped that the journalists would make positive efforts to promote mutual understanding between the two peoples and contribute to the sound development of bilateral ties.

He said the relations between China and the United States have currently maintained a sound momentum and the two countries have kept close trade ties, as well as effective cooperation in international affairs. He stressed China and the United States share significant common interests in maintaining peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. The two sides should consider each other's core interests and properly handle differences in an effort to promote cooperative and constructive relations, he said.   He also took questions on China's peaceful development, China-Japan relations as well as China's role in addressing the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, the Middle East peace process and other major international issues.

Co-organized by the Better Hong Kong Foundation and East-West Center of USA, the delegation comprised nine senior editors and reporters from the U.S. media, including Foreign Policy magazine, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal Asia.  Besides Beijing, the delegation will also visit China's southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.