BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China should be partners in trying to secure world stability and peace, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte said here Sunday.

　　The United States seeks to work cooperatively with China in this regard which benefits two countries and the rest of the world,Negroponte told a press conference at the U.S. embassy in Beijing.

　　"The United States encourages China to play a responsible role on the international stage and appreciates China's positive contributions to promoting peace and stability," he said.

　　Since he kicked off his China visit on Saturday, Negroponte had meetings with State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, as well as vice foreign ministers Dai Bingguo and Yang Jiechi respectively.

　　"We have good frank discussion in each of the meetings, focusing on bilateral and strategic issues including Korean (peninsula) nuclear issue, regional security, the war on terrorism and trade," he said.

　　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.

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