China and the United States maintain close coordination and communication in international affairs. The two countries have maintained effective communication and cooperation on issues from handling such global challenges as the international financial crisis and climate change to properly addressing the Korean Peninsula situation, Iranian nuclear issue and South Asian hotspot issues, from the traditional security areas to the unconventional security fields of anti-terrorism, anti-proliferation, energy resources security, public health and disaster reduction and prevention, and are playing an increasingly important role of safeguarding world peace, stability and prosperity. China upholds that such international laws as the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations should be respected and maintained when handling relevant regional and international issues.

Cultural exchanges and regional cooperation are being broadened. Over the past 40 years, the people-to-people contacts between China and the United States have been strengthened. When the two countries just established diplomatic ties, the annual bilateral people-to-people contacts only numbered 5,000. Today, more than 9,000 people traveled across the two sides of the Pacific every day. Thirty-eight pairs of sister provinces and states and 176 pairs of sister cities have been formed between the two countries. Since 1978, more than 400,000 Chinese have studied in the United States. At present, there are around 160,000 Chinese students studying in the United States and over 20,000 Americans studying in China. There are 300 million Chinese learning English and to learn Chinese is becoming more and more popular in the United States. Learning each other's language will help enhance the understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

We have also realized that China-U.S. relations are faced with some problems and interferences. The United States insists on selling advanced weapons to Taiwan, which seriously undermines the bilateral ties and the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Straits; it uses the so-called human rights and religious issues to interfere in China's internal affairs; some Americans hype up the renminbi exchange rate issue and politicize the bilateral economic and trade frictions; some preach the "China threat theory" and clamor to "contain" China. As the election period starts in the United States, the domestic political factors there clearly have negative impact upon the China-U.S. relations. China resolutely opposes these wrongdoings of the United States and firmly safeguards its own sovereignty, security and development interests. China demands the United States to move forward together in the same direction, adhere to the principles and spirit of the three joint communiqués and joint statements, step up dialogue and cooperation, properly handle sensitive issues, safeguard the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and bring greater benefits to the two peoples and people around the world.

III

In the world today, the trends of peace, development and cooperation are more vigorous than ever and countries are more closely linked with each other. Meanwhile, the international financial crisis is still exerting deep impact, world economy recovers slowly, local conflicts and hotspot issues keep popping up and such global issues as climate change and energy security grow more seriously. World peace and development are confronted with difficulties and challenges that require the international community to carry forward the spirit of pressing ahead, reinforce cooperation and cope with challenges together.