Chinese, U.S. vice presidents hold talks on ties

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Tuesday held talks at the White House with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden on deepening the relations between the two countries.

During the talks, Xi said his current visit is aimed at increasing strategic mutual trust, exploring more substantial cooperation and deepening the friendship between the two countries and peoples.

Xi said the trip is also for implementing the important consensus reached by the two countries' presidents to advance the building of the China-U.S. cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.

He said he hopes to make contact with Americans from various walks of life in a bid to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

Biden, for his part, said the current U.S. administration has determined to "renew and intensify" the U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region, and "the ties with China in particular."

"Our bilateral relations are the most important in the world, not only important to both countries, but also to the world at large," he noted.

He also said Xi's visit would continue to sustain the high-level dialogue between the two countries.

Xi arrived in Washington on Monday afternoon for a five-day official visit to the country.