Bush's Visit Significant to Sino-U.S. Relations

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Saturday, February 23, 2002

Bush's Visit Significant to Sino-U.S. Relations

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US President Bush Visited Great Wall of China

Exactly 30 years after U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China, U.S. President George W. Bush made a 30-hour China visit. At a historic moment, with the two heads of state meeting in Beijing to review history and look ahead, China and the United States, two big countries bearing special responsibilities for world peace, stability and prosperity, have begun a new stage of developing constructive relations of cooperation in the new century.

The meeting between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Bush is rich in content and has drawn world attention.

Since last year, Jiang and Bush have made many telephone conversations and exchanged letters, keeping in close touch on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of common concern. Four months ago the two presidents had a successful meeting in Shanghai. Jiang will visit the United Stateslater this year at the invitation of Bush, and Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao will also visit the United States in the near future at the invitation of U.S. Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney. The frequent exchange of visits by the two countries' leaders shows a sound momentum for the development of bilateral relations.

During his stay in China, Bush also met with other Chinese leaders, delivered a speech at Qinghua University and visited the Great Wall. He said he saw "amazing progress" of the great country.

President Bush Arrives at Great Wall of China

During Bush's visit, both presidents spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations. In his talks with Bush, Jiang said development of bilateral relations has maintained a good momentum. "The two countries' people are happy about it, so are the people of the world," he said. When meeting the press jointly with Jiang, Bush said, "Our ties are mature, respectful and important to both our nations and the world." Bush described his talks with Jiang as "candid, positive." While visiting a demonstration of Cummins compressed natural gas engines here Thursday, Bush once again said his talks with Jiang were "fruitful."

The remarks of the leaders of the two big countries show that the strategic significance of developing Sino-U.S. constructive relations of cooperation cannot be ignored in face of the complicated and volatile international situation. Just as Jiang put it, "China and the United States have more, rather than less, shared interests and more, rather than less, common responsibilities for world peace. The importance of the relationship has increased rather than decreased."

To maintain a sound momentum for developing bilateral relations,Jiang put forward a four-point proposition.

In addition to maintaining high-level contacts and dialogues, the two heads of state have agreed to actively carry out exchangesand cooperation in areas of economy and trade, energy, science andtechnology, environmental protection, AIDS prevention and treatment and law enforcement. Sino-U.S. joint meetings on economy,commerce and trade, and science and technology will be held this year.

Jiang, Bush Hold Official Talks

Jiang and Bush held in-depth discussions on counter-terrorism and agreed to strengthen consultations and cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit, and reinforce medium- andlong-term mechanisms for exchanges and cooperation for combating terrorism.

During his visit Bush once again expressed thanks to China for its support to and cooperation with the United States in combatingterrorism.

The two sides did not deny their differences in the candid and positive talks. Both agreed they should continue to reduce differences, expand common understandings and promote cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect, treating each other as equals, and seeking common ground while reserving differences.

Jiang explained to Bush China's basic policy of "peaceful reunification, 'one country, two systems'" for solving the Taiwan issue, which is the key to a steady development of Sino-U.S. relations.

Bush reiterated that the U.S. side upholds the "one China" policy and abides by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, stressing that it is the consistent position of the U.S. government.

Three decades ago, leaders of China and the United States endedestrangement between the two countries with bold vision. Bilateral relations have kept developing despite twists and turns. This shows that the two countries' leaders who know best their respective national interests, and people who are fully aware of the value of bilateral ties, have come to realize that the world'slargest developing and developed countries have shared interests in many areas, which constitutes an important basis for a further development of bilateral relations.

The Chinese and American peoples are great, intelligent and creative. As long as both sides keep in mind their common interests, follow the trend of the times, abide by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and as long as both sides maintain high-level dialogues, promote exchanges and cooperation and handle their differences properly, Sino-U.S. relations are sure to keep consolidating, improving and developing in the new century. This has been proven by the development of Sino-U.S. relations over thepast three decades, and has been recognized by U.S. presidents in the last 30 years including President Bush. It will also be provenby further development of Sino-U.S. relations in days to come.

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