President Hu Jintao has praised US president-elect Barack Obama for emphasizing the importance of China-US relations and calling for strengthening bilateral¹ cooperation to meet global challenges.

In a conversation over the phone on Saturday, the two leaders discussed bilateral ties and major international issues of common concern.

Diplomatic ties between the two countries were established 30 years ago, Hu said, and since then bilateral relations have developed strongly despite some setbacks.

Hu attaches great importance to the November 15 summit in Washington, called by US President George W. Bush to find ways of preventing the global financial crisis from creating more problems and finding ways of restoring investors²' confidence in the market.

China and the US share extensive common interests on issues such as world peace and development, and both have assumed important responsibilities.

China and the US should respect each other and address their mutual³ concerns, Hu said. They should settle sensitive issues, particularly the Taiwan question appropriately to take their constructive⁴ cooperation to a higher level.

China's development and success, Obama said, serves US interests. US-China ties are vital, and their development is not only in the interest of the two countries, but also the rest of the world.

Obama is expected to head to the White House for his first post-election meeting with Bush this week.

Questions:

1. When were diplomatic ties between China and the United States established?

2. What is happening on November 15?

3. President-elect Barack Obama is expected to do what this week?

Answers:

1. 30 years ago.

2. There will be a summit to find ways of preventing the global financial crisis from creating more problems and find ways of restoring investors’ confidence in the market.

3. Obama is expected to meet President George W Bush for his post-election meeting.