Jiang Expects 'Positive Results' from Talks with Bush

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 25, 2002

Jiang Expects 'Positive Results' from Talks with Bush

A stable, healthy and growing Sino-US relationship, which conforms to the trend of the times, serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the people of the whole world, Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Houston Wednesday at a dinner attended by 800 people including former President George H. W. Bush.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Jiang Expects 'Positive Results' from Talks with Bush

Chinese President Jiang Zemin highlighted US-China relations on Wednesday in Houston and said he expected "positive results" from upcoming talks with President Bush during a three-day visit to Texas.

President Jiang, speaking at a dinner attended by 800 people including former President George H. W. Bush, said a strong relationship between the two countries was important to peace and prosperity.

Jiang will meet with US President Bush at the president's ranch in Crawford, Texas, on Friday -- being only the fourth foreign leader to be invited to the private estate.

"I'm confident the meeting (with Bush) will generate positive results and help move forward our relationship," Jiang said to applause from the audience at a Houston hotel.

Jiang recalled that 30 years ago, the leaders of the two nations, with great foresight and breadth of vision, broke the ice after bilateral ties were frozen for 23 years.

"A friendly and cooperative relationship between China and the United States will not only generate great benefits for the two peoples, but also contribute in a positive way to peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," he said.

The elder Bush praised Jiang as a "great leader, great friend." "We all should be very grateful to Jiang Zemin for what he has done to keep US-China relations on a sound track," he said. "And it is absolutely essential to our own interests and I think to China's too that this relationship stay strong and firm."

During a meeting with Houston Mayor Brown earlier, Jiang said the Chinese government has always valued its friendly ties with Houston and supported various regions and departments in China in their efforts to undertake exchanges and cooperation with the city.

Jiang said he believed that, through concerted efforts, the two sides will make greater progress in exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Brown said that during his two visits to China, he had signed a total of 72 cooperation agreements with the Chinese side on energy resources, ports, airports, medicine, education and high-tech, which help tighten the Houston-China relations and the US-China ties.

Earlier in the day, Jiang visited the Johnson Space Center in southern Houston.

Also on Wednesday, President Jiang's wife Wang Yeping had a tea party with Barbara Bush in Bush's house in Houston.

Presidents to talk on key issues

Jiang said Wednesday morning (Beijing time) that he was looking forward to his third meeting in a year with US President Bush, with bilateral trade and key international and regional issues of common concern topping the agenda.

"I believe the meeting will produce positive results, and propel Sino-US constructive and co-operative relations further forward,'' Jiang told Illinois Governor George H. Ryan.

He said the development of bilateral ties has maintained a sound momentum. The two countries share extensive and important common interests, though differences do exist.

Co-operation in anti-terrorism and economic and trade arenas have not only brought both parties "huge, practical benefits," but are also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, Jiang said.

He said he was pleased to come to Chicago, his first visit to this third biggest US city as president, and hoped Chinese cities and regions would conduct more fruitful co-operation with Chicago and Illinois.

Chicago is a key financial, trade, industrial and cultural hub in the United States, with such conglomerates as Motorola and Boeing based in the city. China is currently the state's seventh biggest export destination.

After the meeting, Jiang was invited to a banquet given in his honour by Governor Ryan, the Chicago Municipal Government and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.

In his speech to 400 local guests, the Chinese president drew a rosy picture of economic and trade exchanges between China and Illinois and Chicago, stressing that China has entered a new era of its opening up drive since it became a WTO member last year.

Extending a warm welcome to Jiang, Governor Ryan said his state will co-operate closely with Chinese partners to forge an even more promising future.

Following his US visit, Jiang will proceed to attend the 10th Informal Leaders' Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Los Cabos, Mexico from Oct. 26 to 27.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese President Arrives in Houston to Continue US Visit

Chinese President Meets Illinois Governor in Chicago

Chinese President Kicks Off Working Visit to US

>> Full Coverage

China Outlines Future Plans for Expansion of Road Network ( 2 Messages)

China May Have More PhDs Than the US in 2010 ( 17 Messages)

PBOC Forecast Faster Money Growth ( 2 Messages)

President Jiang's Trip will Advance Sino-US Ties: Officials ( 17 Messages)

Historic Achievements Gained in China's Science and Technology ( 27 Messages)