Chinese President Hu meets former U.S. President Carter

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The U.S. delegation was also welcomed at a banquet by Vice President Xi Jinping.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with  former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who is here to attend  the commemorative events of the 30th anniversary of the  establishment of diplomatic relations between China and  the United States, in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 12,  2009.(Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Xi Jinping said that over the past 30 years China and the U.S. have become stakeholders and constructive partners on a wide range of issues.

The trade volume between the two sides has increased from only 2 and a half billion U.S dollars in 1979 to 300 billion U.S dollars in 2007. A combined total of nearly 2 million visits are made each year between two peoples. Cooperation has become ever closer, particularly in the face of natural disasters and other global challenges.

Mr. Carter emphasized that the one-China policy is the priority of the U.S's diplomatic policy towards China. He maintained that the two sides should enhance cooperation to deal with climate change, epidemic diseases, terrorism, and the financial crisis.