DCM and Minister Xie Feng of the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC hosted a background briefing for major media groups in the United States on April 29. Senior management personnel and editors and journalists covering China from Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Washington Times, ABC, PBS, Fox News, NPR and US News and World Report attended the briefing.

The DCM briefed the guests on current China-US relations and Chinese Government's positions on developing China-US relationship in the new era. According to him, China-US relations enjoyed a smooth transition and good beginning after the inauguration of the new US administration early this year thanks to the joint efforts of both countries. President Hu Jintao and President Barack Obama held a successful meeting on April 1st alongside the London financial summit. The two sides decided to work together to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship in the 21 century, and reached important agreements on extablishing the "China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues" and strengthening exchanges and cooperation in addressing the financial crisis, the issues in the areas of economy, trade, energy, environment and climate change, and other major international and regional issues. China-US relationship is at a new historical starting point where it is offered important opportunities for further development. China is ready to work with the United States to earnestly implement the agreement between the presidents, keep the bilateral relations firmly on track, strengthen dialogues, mutual trust and cooperation, respect each other's core interests, and handle differences and sensitive issues appropriately so that China-US relationship will develop sustainably, soundly and steadily and make greater contribution to the people of the two countries and the rest of the world.

DCM Xie also commented on the increasing interests in China among major US media and the increasing number of reports on China in recent years. He noted that reports on China by US media during the Beijing Olympic Games were especially intense, ushering a new round of "China fervor". Despite the recent impact from the international financial crisis, US media reports on China continued to increase in number. In an information age with growing globalization, China and the United States enjoy ever closer relationship and the Chinese and American peoples need to deepen mutual understanding more than ever before. Comprehensive, objective and fair media reports on China is essential in helping the American public see the real China so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries and promote sound and steady development of China-US relations.

The DCM briefed the journalists on Chinese Government's positions when asked to comment on China's development strategy and international status, the Obama administration's policy towards China, China-US economic cooperation and trade, the nuclear issue of the Koran Peninsula, Iran nuclear program and the situation in South Asia. The guests appreciated the opportunity to gain a better understanding of China's position on relevant issues.