Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong meets with Henry Tzu-Yow Yang, Chancellor of the University of California in Santa Barbara (UCSB), in San Francisco, April 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)

Visiting Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong has encouraged U.S. companies to carry out broader and greater cooperation with China.

Liu arrived here late Sunday from Seattle on her trip of official visit to the United States.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong meets with delegates from the University of California in San Francisco, April 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)

During her stay in Seattle, Liu visited Microsoft headquarters and Boeing facilities and was briefed by the two companies about their research and development strategies as well as their operations in China.

Liu spoke highly of the measures taken by the two companies to make big investment in research and development in spite of the global financial crisis.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L front) visits Microsoft Corp. at the company of Microsoft chief research and strategy officer Craig Mundie (R front) in Seattle, April 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)

China looks forward to expanding exchange and cooperation with U.S. technology companies, and will strive to boost China-U.S. cooperation in science and technology to a new high, Liu said.

The state councilor added that the Chinese government would continue to adhere to the policy of opening up and to expand international exchange and cooperation in science and technology through various mechanisms.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) views the materials for Boeing's 787 Dreamliner jet in Seattle, April 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)

With due protection of intellectual property rights, universities, scientific institutions and corporations in the United States and China could jointly build research centers and laboratories to promote the industrialization of research findings, Liu said.

On their part, both Microsoft and Boeing executives expressed their confidence in China's future development and in their cooperation with the country. They pledged to further cooperate with the Chinese side to contribute to the economic development of the two countries and global economic recovery.

Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong (L) visits Boeing's assembly lines in Seattle, April 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Qi Heng)

(Source: Xinhua)