Chinese President Jiang Zemin recently exchanged opinions with his US counterpart Bill Clinton on bilateral relations and the situation in South Asia through a direct telephone line according to an arrangement. This is the first direct-telephone talk between the two presidents since the establishment of the direct telephone line between the Chinese and the United States governments.

The two presidents discussed the current tense situation in South Asia and they held that the international community should make concerted efforts for the peace, security and stability in the South Asian region and for the realization of the nuclear-weapon-free goal in South Asia.

Clinton said that he is looking forward to meeting again with President Jiang in Beijing in his upcoming first state visit to China and stressed that a closer US-China relationship would not only serve the peoples of the two countries, but also produce a positive impact on the development of the international situation.

Jiang recalled his state visit to the US in October last year and said that the consensus reached between him and Clinton in Washington is being implemented step by step.

The exchange and cooperation between China and the United States in a wide range of fields have witnessed new progress and the two countries have conducted effective consultations and collaboration on a series of major international issues, Jiang said, adding that Sino-US relations are facing favorable opportunities of development.

Jiang said that he is expecting a complete success of Clinton's upcoming state visit to China.