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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, February 21, 2002

Jiang, Bush Hold Official Talks

Chinese President Jiang Zemin and visiting U.S. President George W. Bush Held official talks in Beijing Thursday at the Great Hall of the People.

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Bush in Talks with Jiang
Chinese President Jiang Zemin and visiting U.S. President George W. Bush held positive, constructive and fruitful talks here Thursday at the Great Hall ofthe People and exchanged views on China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues, reaching broad and important consensus.

Jiang first expressed his warm welcome to Bush, noting that he and his U.S. counterpart had a very good meeting in Shanghai four months ago and he is delighted to meet with Bush again.

"At the meeting in Shanghai, we reached an important consensus on working together to develop constructive relations of cooperation between China and the United States," Jiang said. "In the past four months, the two sides have achieved new progress in dialogue and cooperation in various areas. The trend of development of bilateral relations is good."

Bush said that he is pleased to visit China together with his wife and see the tremendous changes in China with their own eyes. He expressed appreciation for the warm reception by the Chinese people, noting that he is very much impressed by the huge changes in Beijing.


Jiang Holds Close-talks with Bush
Bush again thanked the Chinese people for their support in the fight against terrorism after the terrorist attacks in the United States last September.

Jiang said Bush is paying the visit at a significant time linking the past and the future of the Sino-U.S. relations.

Three decades ago, former U.S. President Richard Nixon visited China and leaders of both nations worked together putting an end to their estrangement and setting about their exchanges and cooperation, Jiang said, adding that history has proven that it was far-sighted of them to take that major move.

Jiang noted that 30 years later, although profound changes havetaken place in the international situation, the two countries' shared interests and common responsibilities for world peace have expanded rather than dwindled, and their relationship has become more important rather than less important.

The world expects China and the U.S. to play their due and positive roles in safeguarding world peace and stability, Jiang said.

The lessons and experience of the development of the China-U.S.relationship in the past 30 years indicate that the two sides should bear in mind the larger picture, take a long-term perspective and enhance mutual understanding and trust in developing the bilateral ties, Jiang said.

Both sides should recognize and respect each other's differences, and seek to expand their common ground, Jiang said, adding that they should also strictly abide by the principles in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques.

Standing at the threshold of the new century, both China and the U.S. should learn from the past, look into the future, and make concerted efforts for the further development of their bilateral ties in the future, Jiang said.

In exchanging in-depth views with Bush, Jiang elaborated on China's basic guidelines of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" in solving the Taiwan issue.

Jiang stressed the significance of sticking to the "one China" policy and abiding by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques.

Bush reiterated that the U.S. side adheres to the "one China" policy and abides by the three joint communiques, which is the consistent position of the U.S. government.

Bush invited Jiang to visit the U.S. before Jiang attends this year's APEC Economic Leaders Meeting. Jiang expressed appreciationfor the invitation and accepted it with pleasure. Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao will visit the U.S. in the near future as guest of U.S. Vice-President Richard Bruce Cheney.

The two heads of state agreed to take active efforts to develop exchanges and cooperation in the areas of economy and trade, energy, science and technology, environmental protection, AIDS prevention and treatment and law enforcement. The Sino-U.S. joint meetings on economy, commerce and trade, and science and technology will be held this year.

The two sides also agreed to establish a joint working group for the issues of environmental protection and climate changes on the pretext that the two sides do not change their respective positions on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol.

Jiang and Bush also had in-depth discussions on the situation of international anti-terrorism and they agreed to continue to strengthen consultations and cooperation on the basis of two-way exchanges and mutual benefit, and enrich the exchange and cooperation mechanism for anti-terrorism in the middle and long run between the two sides.

They also discussed some differences existing between the two countries. Jiang said that China and the U.S. have different national conditions and it is nothing strange for the two countries to have some differences. He pointed out that they can continuously reduce differences, expand common views and promote cooperation so long as they act in the spirit of mutual respect, equal treatment and seeking common ground while reserving differences. Bush agreed with Jiang on the point.

Present at the talks from the Chinese side were Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi. The U.S. officials at the talks included Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Chief of Staff of White House Andrew Card and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Condoleezza Rice.

Bush Arrives in Beijing and Starts China Visit

U.S. President George W. Bush' s presidential plane Air Force One Thursday Morning landed at the Capital Airport in Beijing.

Close to 100 Chinese and foreign reporters have gathered at the airport to cover Bush's arrival.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin hosted a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People to welcome visiting U.S. President George W. Bush.

The two heads of state introduced, respectively, Chinese and U.S. officials attending the ceremony.

A Chinese military band played national anthems of the two countries.

Accompanied by President Jiang, President Bush reviewed the guard of honor of the three services of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Attending the ceremony from the Chinese side were Jiang's wife Wang Yeping, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhou Guangzhao, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Ye Xuanping, Chairman of the Central Committee of China Democratic National Construction Association Cheng Siwei, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Yang Jiechi, Yang's wife Yue Aimei, Deputy Chief of the PLA General Staff Xiong Guangkai, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee You Xigui, and Assistant to Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong.

The U.S. guests attending the ceremony included Bush's wife Laura Bush, Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Chief of Staff of White House Andrew Card and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Condoleezza Rice.

Chronology of meetings between President Jiang and U.S. presidents.

  • November 19, 1993 -- President Jiang held a formal meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton in Seattle, the United States, on the sideline of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, the first formal meeting between the heads of state of the two countries since February 1989. Clinton promised to pursue the one-China policy and observe the principles enshrined in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques.

  • November 14, 1994 -- President Jiang and President Clinton exchanged views on wide-ranging international and regional issues of common concern at their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, during an APEC informal leadership meeting.

  • October 24, 1995 -- President Jiang went to New York to attend the Special Commemorative Meeting of the U.N. General Assembly on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. During his stay there, Jiang held a meeting with Clinton and they discussed bilateral relations and international issues of common concern.

  • November 24, 1996 -- President Jiang and President Clinton exchanged views on wide-ranging subjects including bilateral relations, regional and international issues in Manila during an APEC meeting in the Philippines. The two leaders agreed to exchange visits in the next two years.

  • October 26-November 3, 1997 -- President Jiang paid a state visit to the United States, the first by a Chinese president in 12 years. During the visit, Jiang and Clinton agreed to set up a mechanism of regular meetings between the heads of state of the two countries.

  • November 24, 1997 -- President Jiang held a meeting with President Clinton during an APEC meeting in Canada.

  • June 25-July 3, 1998 -- U.S. President Clinton paid a state visit to China. During the visit, President Jiang and President Clinton held talks and they issued three joint statements on South Asia, the protocol to the Biological Weapons Convention and the issue of anti-personnel mines respectively. Clinton reiterated that the United States upholds the one-China policy, abides by the principles contained in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and does not support Taiwan's independence, "one China, one Taiwan," "two Chinas" and Taiwan's bid to join any international organizations made of only sovereign states.

  • September 11, 1999 -- President Jiang held a meeting with President Clinton in Auckland, New Zealand, during an APEC meeting and they exchanged views on Sino-U.S. relations, and regional and international issues of common concern.

  • September 8, 2000 -- President Jiang held a meeting with President Clinton in New York on the occasion of the United Nations Millennium Summit. The two leaders exchanged views on Sino-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of common concern. Clinton pledged that the United States will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

  • November 16, 2000 -- President Jiang and President Clinton held a meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, during an APEC meeting. The two presidents exchanged views on major issues related to bilateral relations, China's entry into the World Trade Organization and other issues of common concern.

  • October 19, 2001 -- President Jiang met President George W. Bush in Shanghai during an APEC meeting. The two presidents discussed in detail major issues related to bilateral relations, the battle against terrorism, and the safeguarding of world peace and stability. President Bush reiterated that the U.S. government pursues the one-China policy and adheres to the principles enshrined in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques.��

    Nixon's 1972 'Ice-Breaking' Visit to China




    February 22, 1972, People's Daily Front Page
    Thirty years ago today, the then U.S. President Richard Nixon started his "ice-breaking" visit to China, marking the beginning of a normalization process for relations between China and the United States.

    Accompanied by Secretary of State William Rogers and Henry Kissinger, adviser to the president for national security affairs,Nixon and his wife arrived in Beijing on February 21, 1972.

    The late Chairman Mao Zedong paid special attention to Nixon's visit. Immediately after Nixon finished his luncheon following his arrival, Mao met with the American guest in his study. The two leaders had a candid exchange of views on major issues of common concern.

    Substantive talks on the international situation and bilateral relations, lasting four days in Beijing, were held by then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and Nixon, Kissinger and some other officials.


    Chairman Mao Zedong Shook Hands with President Nixon
    Nixon and his wife visited the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and the Imperial Palace during their stay in Beijing.

    On February 26, accompanied by Zhou, Nixon and his wife left Beijing for Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, where they toured the picturesque West Lake.

    On February 27, still accompanied by Zhou, Nixon and his wife arrived in Shanghai. They left China for the United States the following day.

    On February 28, 1972, the historic Shanghai Communique was issued by the People's Republic of China and the United States of America.

    This diplomatic document, which has been of great significance for Sino-U.S. relations, does not conform with the usual style of communiques.

    In the Shanghai Communique, the two sides expressed what they agreed as well as what they differed on bilateral and international issues.





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    U.S. President Bush Arrives for Welcome Ceremony

    Backgrounder: Chronology of Meetings Between Chinese President Jiang and U.S. Presidents

    Backgrounder: the Great Hall of the People





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