Chinese top advisor Jia Qinglin told a delegation from the US senate in Beijing Wednesday that China will "unswervingly move along the road of peaceful development".

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the delegation that it is his country's core task to promote economic progress and improve the people's living standard .

"We will strive for a peaceful international environment to facilitate our development while benefiting world peace and development with our own development," Jia told the delegation led by Gordon Smith, which also includes another eight congressmen.

Jia appreciated the contribution made by Smith and his colleagues in fueling Sino-US relations and economic and trade cooperation, saying that bilateral ties are developing steadily in general and are facing new opportunities.

US President George W. Bush paid a successful visit to China last month, he said, noting that Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Bush reached an important consensus on advancing constructive cooperative ties between the two nations in the 21st century.

Smith told Jia that his current visit indicated the US' desire to keep a good relationship with China and he hopes that US-China relations will go further in a way which is beneficial for the people of both nations.

The two sides also conferred on Sino-US trade and economic cooperation and other issues of common concern.

The delegation is here as guest of the Beijing-based Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Xinhua