Chinese President Jiang Zemin's forthcoming state visit to the United States will promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and their peoples, and bring the bilateral relations to a new period of development.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Shen Guofang told a press conference on October 14 that President Jiang Zemin will pay a state visit to the US from October 26 to November 2 at the invitation of US President William Clinton.

Shen said that during the visit, President Jiang Zemin and President Clinton will hold talks in Washington, having an in-depth exchange of views on China-US relations, the current international situation and major issues of mutual interest, and jointly establish the guidelines governing bilateral relations oriented towards the 21st century.

In addition to Washington, President Jiang will also visit New York, Boston, Los Angeles, etc.

Shen said, "President Jiang's state visit to the US will definitely promote mutual understanding and friendship between China and the United States and between the two peoples and bring bilateral relations to a new period."