Jiang, Bush Vow to Push Sino-US Ties Forward

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, October 28, 2002

Jiang, Bush Vow to Push Sino-US Ties Forward

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Jiang and Bush Meets the Press

Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush said on Friday that their countries were willing to intensify cooperation in all fields and at all levels to promote a constructive bilateral relationship.

Speaking at a press conference following their talks at Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas, Jiang said: "The meeting has been constructive and productive. We both agree that China and the US are two great nations sharing extensive and important common interests."

"The two sides should increase exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade, cultural, education and other fields. We should step up dialogue and coordination on major international and regional issues, and constantly move our constructive and cooperative relationship forward," Jiang added.

Expressing satisfaction with the two countries' cooperation on anti-terror in the past year, Jiang noted that the two sides agreed to strengthen such cooperation "in a two-way and mutually beneficial manner, and work together against terrorism in all forms and manifestations."

In his remarks, Bush said: "The United States and China are also allies in the fight against global terror and our two countries are deepening our economic relations."

Jiang told reporters that they also have had "a frank exchange of views" on the Taiwan question. "I have elaborated on my government's basic policy of peaceful unification and the policy of 'one country, two systems' for the settlement of the Taiwan question. President Bush has reiterated his clear-cut position that the US government abides by the one China policy," he said.

Also referring to the Taiwan issue at the press conference, Bush re-emphasized the one China policy the US government has upheld and the three joint communiques signed by the two countries.

The US president affirmed that "we do not support independence" of Taiwan.

On the nuclear issue concerning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Jiang said, "China has all along been a supporter of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and wants peace and stability there. I agreed with President Bush that we will continue to consult on this issue and work together to ensure a peaceful resolution of the problem."

Bush and Jiang also discussed human rights, religion and other issues. "I told President Bush that democracy and human rights are the common pursuits of mankind and that China's human rights situation is at its best, characterized by constant improvement," Jiang said.

"Regarding our differences in these areas, the Chinese side stands ready to continue exchanging views with the US side on the basis of mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving differences, with a view to deepening understanding and enhancing consensus," he added.

"I'm confident that, so long as the two sides persist in viewing and handling their relations from a strategic height and with a long-term perspective and keep expanding cooperation and enhancing mutual trust, China-US relations will be able to grow steadily and bring benefits to both peoples, "Jiang noted.

Bush said, "It is inevitable that nations the size of the United States and China will have differences, but the president and I agree that we need to resolve our differences through mutual understanding and respect."

"The United States seeks and is building a relationship with China that is candid, constructive and cooperative. We will continue building this relationship through contacts at many levels in months to come, including a new dialogue on security issues," the US president added.

Answering a question about the development of Sino-US relationship in the past year, Jiang said, "China and the United States have expanded their cooperation and enhanced mutual understanding and trust. On the whole, the relationship has enjoyed a good momentum of growth."

"Facts have proven once again that despite the profound changes in the international situation and despite the differences of one type or another between China and the US, our two countries have more, rather than less, common interest. And the prospect of cooperation between us has become broader, rather than narrower, "Jiang said.

Commenting on the relationship with China, Bush said, "The United States and China believe that a strong relationship between our nations will help to build a more peaceful world."

When asked about his comment on the call of some people in the United States for containing China, Jiang said, "Given their different national conditions, it is only natural for China and the United States to disagree from time to time. Such a disagreement should be viewed and handled in a broad perspective."

"China has chosen a development path suited to its national conditions. It has enjoyed rapid progress in economic growth, cultural development and the building of democracy and the rule of law, bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese people. Their quality of life and standard of living are improving," Jiang affirmed.

"As the biggest developing country in the world, this road is still very long before China achieves full modernization; our central task and long-term goal remain one of economic development and improvement of people's living standards," he said

Jiang noted that China has neither engaged in expansion nor sought hegemony. "We sincerely desire peace all over the world. Even when China becomes more developed in the future, it will not pose a threat to others."

At the press conference, Bush announced that US Vice President Dick Cheney will visit China next spring, at the invitation of Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao.

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