Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met here Tuesday to discuss relations between their two countries, including bilateral exchanges and cooperation in humanities.

During the meeting, Liu expressed satisfaction with the momentum of growth in China-US relations since the Obama administration took office.

The consensus reached between the heads of state of the two countries on the future growth of their bilateral relationship has provided important opportunities for the two sides to further exchanges and cooperation in all fields, she said.

Bilateral exchanges and cooperation in humanities, Liu said, could be of great importance in enhancing mutual trust, deepening understanding and friendship between the two peoples, and sustaining the momentum of growth of China-US relations.

The Chinese state councilor put forward a five-point proposal designed to deepen China-US exchanges and cooperation in humanities in a new phase.

First, both sides should expand exchanges and cooperation in humanities in line with the principles of mutual respect, seeking common ground while maintaining differences, learning from each other, and making common progress.

Second, exchanges and cooperation in humanities should become an important part of the efforts to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st century. Both sides should work out related programs from a long-term and strategic perspective.

Third, related departments of the two governments should maintain close exchanges and increase consultations through various mechanisms.

Fourth, both sides should promote people-to-people contacts and deepen effective cooperation.

And fifth, both parties should increase exchanges between the young people to consolidate the basis for future growth of China-US relationship.

Liu said that the two sides should give priorities to education and science and technology in their exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities.

The two countries also should learn from each other in education and take concrete actions to promote cooperation in such areas as basic scientific research, clean energy, power-saving and pollution reduction, she said.

Clinton expressed her support for Liu's proposal, saying that the US side will actively implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state during the G20 London Summit and further increase exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese side in the fields of humanities such as education, culture, science and technology.

The secretary of state said that US-China relations have witnessed fast growth and China has gained great achievements in the past three decades since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

The relationship between the United States and China is cooperative, not competitive, both countries share extensive common interests and should strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, Clinton said.

State Councilor Liu arrived in Washington from New York on Monday evening. During her stay in New York, Liu attended a ceremony to inaugurate a Confucius institute at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.