BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte here on Sunday morning.

    "I hope all of us can learn from your spirit of hard working for promoting the friendship between our peoples and for deepening our cooperation," Li said at the photo session prior to their closed-door meeting.

    "I heard some part of your country was hit by cyclone which caused some casualties. Please accept my sympathy and condolences to the victims," Li said.

    Cyclone hit southern United States on Thursday and caused at least 13 deaths and many injuries.

    This is Negroponte's first official trip abroad since he took the post of deputy secretary of state on Feb. 27.

    He will meet with Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan later on Sunday.

    Negroponte's visit to Beijing is his second leg of an Asian trip that has already taken him to Japan and will stop next week in the Republic of Korea (ROK).

    China, Japan, the ROK and the United States are all involved in the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and part of Negroponte's Asian tour is expected to focus on this issue.

    Related:

    Vice FM meets U.S. Deputy Secretary of State

    BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo held talks with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte here on Saturday afternoon.

    This is Negroponte's first official trip abroad since he took the post as deputy secretary of state on Feb. 27.

    According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Dai told Negroponte that the two countries should always treat and deal with bilateral relations from a "strategic height" and a "long-run perspective".

    U.S. Deputy Secretary of State kicks off China visit

    BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte arrived here at noon Saturday, starting his three-day visit to China.

    During Negroponte's stay here, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, as well as vice foreign ministers Dai Bingguo and Yang Jiechi will meet or hold talks with Negroponte, respectively.