BEIJING Newly appointed U.S. ambassador to China Clark Randt arrived Friday in Beijing and pledged to work closely with the Chinese government as the two countries tackle months of tense relations.

"I pledge my best efforts to bring U.S. closer together, to listen carefully and to try to understand China, her aspirations and concerns," AFP quoted Randt as saying in Chinese as he arrived at his residence.

"We both need a positive, cooperative and constructive relationship."

Randt, a former college classmate and close friend of U.S. President George W. Bush, arrived ahead of Saturday's visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell.

It will be Powell's first trip as secretary of state, as well as the highest ranking visit to China by a member of the new Bush cabinet.

In Washington Friday Powell said he expected "candid" talks with his Chinese counterpart, while all issues facing the two sides, including disagreements over arms proliferation and human rights, were expected to be on the table.

Randt is expected to hand his credentials to the Chinese government soon, U.S. Embassy officials said.

His appointment to Beijing follows tense relations over Bush's hardline China policy, epitomized by the April mid-air collision over the south China seas between a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet that sent the relationship spiralling to new lows.

On Monday Communist Party mouthpiece **** The People's Daily **** carried an editorial apparently timed for Randt's arrival that called the Taiwan issue "the core issue in Sino-U.S. relations" and which warned Washington against backing an independent Taiwan.

Earlier this year Beijing bristled at the Bush administration's approval of a new weapons sales package to Taiwan, the island territory Beijing considers an inseparable element of China and an integral part of mainland sovereignty.

Before leaving Washington, Randt met with the husband of American-based agent, Gao Zhan, who is being held in China on charges of spying and pledged to make efforts to secure her release.

His arrival in Beijing also comes as the U.S. continues to await the release of Li Shaoming, another U.S. agent, who was tried and convicted of spying last week and awaits deportation.

China has arrested at least five Chinese-American agents in the last several months with many believed to face either spying charges or charges of leaking state secrets.