President Hu Jintao
said in Santiago Saturday that China and the United States have
made positive progress in their constructive and cooperative
relationship in the past four years and that China will work for
steady development of bilateral ties in the coming four
years.??
When talking with US President George W. Bush on the sidelines
of the 12th APEC informal leadership meeting, Hu noted that
bilateral high-level dialogue and contacts at various levels have
increased, with new progress in cooperation in such fields as
economy, trade, law enforcement and the fight against terror, and
that exchanges between the two armies have basically resumed.
Facts have demonstrated that the two countries share broad
common interests and should cooperate in various fields, Hu
said.
The coming four years would be an important period for the
development of the Sino-US ties, Hu said, urging joint efforts to
further promote the steady development of bilateral ties.
Bush, reelected early this month for another four-year term,
said that the United States is willing to further strengthen its
ties with China and to step up consultations and coordination on
major regional and international issues for a better world.
The two presidents also exchanged views on the Taiwan
question.
Hu said China highly appreciates Washington's adherence to the
one-China policy and its opposition to "Taiwan independence."
Hu noted that Bush had on several occasions reiterated
Washington's opposition to "Taiwan independence" and its adherence
to the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint
communiqués.
China highly appreciates Bush's stance on this issue, Hu said,
referring particularly to Bush's public statement on Dec. 9, 2003,
of the opposition to the Taiwan authorities' attempt to
unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan
Straits.
Hu said China has always cherished the principles of "peaceful
reunification" and "one country, two systems" in solving the Taiwan
issue.
He said China will try every means possible under the one-China
principle to reach a peaceful solution to the Taiwan problem.
However, he said, China would never tolerate any attempt to
separate Taiwan from the motherland and that "Taiwan independence"
is totally unacceptable.
"It will not only ruin peace across the Taiwan Straits but also
gravely wreck peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," Hu
said. "Both China and the United States should perceive the perils
of 'Taiwan independence' from such a strategic height."
For his part, Bush said the United States understands that
sensitivity of the Taiwan problem and that it will stick to the
one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués,
oppose any words or deeds to unilaterally alter the status
quo and declare independence, and give no inconsistent signals
to Taiwan authorities.
On the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula, Hu and Bush
agreed to resolve the issue through dialogue and peaceful
means.
Hu told Bush China champions a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and
a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue so as to
maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.
The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and all
parties concerned should show patience, flexibility and sincerity
in resolving it, Hu said.
China will continue close coordination and cooperation with all
parties concerned to push for the convocation of a new round of
six-party talks at an early date, Hu said.
Bush said the United States appreciates China's positive role in
resolving the Korean nuclear issue, and that the US would continue
to advance the six-party talks for a peaceful solution of the
problem.
The six-party talks involve China, the US, the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea, Japan and
Russia. Three rounds of the talks have been held in Beijing so
far.
(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2004)