Entering the year of 2000, China-U.S. exchanges and contacts have been increased in various fields. On Jan.12, the Third Session of China-U.S. Environment and Development Forum was officially opened in Honolulu, the capital city of the state of Hawaii of the U.S., which was co-chaired by Zhu Lilan, Minister of Science and Technology of China and Dr. Neal Lane, Assistant to the U.S. President for Science and Technology. On Jan. 13, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth, who was visiting China as the guest of the U.S. Embassy in China, exchanging views mainly on China-U.S. relations, Taiwan question and relevant international and regional issues. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with Mr. Roth on the same day, both exchanging views on international and regional issues. On Jan. 14, the 9th session of the China-U.S. Joint Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation was held in Honolulu of Hawaii. From Jan. 22 to 26, Lieutenant General Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), visited the U.S. and co-chaired with the U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Walter Slocombe the third vice-ministerial defense consultation between the defense departments of China and the U.S. U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen met Xiong Guangkai on Jan. 26. During his visit, Mr. Xiong also met respectively General Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Ralston, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, James Steinberg, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs and Thomas Pickering, Under Secretary of State. On February 17 and 18, Vice Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Deputy Secretary of State Talbott held China-U.S. Consultation on Strategic Security. The two sides concentrated and had an in-depth and frank exchange of views on the global and regional security, China-U.S. relations and, in particular, the Taiwan question,. They agreed that China and the US bear special responsibilities for safeguarding world and regional peace, stability and security. They also expressed their desire to increase contacts, enhance mutual understanding, broaden consensus and promote cooperation. The Chinese side pointed out that the development and deployment of the National Missle Defense (NMD) system and the Theatre Missle Defense (TMD) system is not in the interest of global strategic balance, nor does it serve regional peace and stability. The Chinese side hopes that the US side will respect the universal aspiration of the international community, handle the matter with prudence and come up with a wise decision. On Feb. 18, Vice Premier Qian Qichen, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Wannian, Minister in charge of the Foreign Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee Liu Huaqiu and Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the PLA Xiong Guangkai met with Mr. Talbott and his entourage respectively.