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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, December 12, 2003

'Taiwan people are our blood brothers and sisters'

We respect the desire of the Taiwan people to develop and pursue democracy. However, we firmly oppose the attempts by certain forces in Taiwan to pursue Taiwan independence under the disguise of promoting democracy in an attempt to cut off Taiwan from the mainland, Wen said in an interview with CNN.


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Premier Wen accepts CNN's interview
China fundamentally opposes the referendum in Taiwan island, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told CNN's Lou Dobbs in an interview to air Thursday evening.

When Bush welcomed Premier Wen to the White House on Tuesday, the president said that the United States opposes plans for a referendum in Taiwan that the administration views as a means of stoking pro-independence sentiment. Those comments were warmly greeted by Beijing.

"We respect the desire of the Taiwan people to develop and pursue democracy," Wen said in the interview.

"However, we firmly oppose the attempts by certain forces in Taiwan to pursue Taiwan independence under the disguise of promoting democracy in an attempt to cut off Taiwan from the mainland."

"The people of Taiwan are our blood brothers and sisters. So as long as even the slightest hope for peace exists, we will work to our utmost to strive for the peaceful process", Wen said.

On another key issue in the region, he laid out China's position on DPRK nuclear issue. "China does not believe that the Korean Peninsula should have nuclear weapons," he said.

"So therefore, we believe that the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula should be resolved through peaceful means and through diplomatic means in the interest of peace and stability on the peninsula."

China committed to increasing imports from US
The premier said China is committed to increasing imports of US products to level the trade balance between the two nations.

Wen met this week with Bush and an array of US officials in what he described as talks held in a "friendly, candid, cooperative and constructive atmosphere."

He noted the two nations do not see eye-to-eye on every issue, but he said both sides must work "to remove these differences and ensure smooth development of our constructive and cooperative relationship."

"We are both of the view that the further strengthening and improvement of China-US relations not only serves the interest of our two peoples, but is also conducive to peace and stability in the whole world," Wen said.

"We both believe the China-US bilateral relationship is the most important state-to-state relationship in our world."

As for US-China trade, he said he hopes his five-point plan will help level the playing field. At the same time, he noted that despite the deficits, US exports to China have increased "by fairly big margins."

Wen said his five-point trade plan was well received at the White House when he presented it to Bush this week.

Among his suggestions in the five-point plan:

-- First, mutual benefit and win-win result. Thinking broadly, one should take account of the other's interests while pursuing its own.

-- Second, development first. Existing differences should be resolved through expanded trade and economic cooperation.

-- Third, greater scope to coordinating mechanisms in bilateraltrade and economic relations. Disputes should be addressed in a timely manner through communication and consultation to avoid possible escalation.

-- Fourth, equal consultation. The two sides should seek consensus while reserving differences on major issues, instead of imposing restrictions or sanctions at every turn.

-- Fifth, do not politicize economic and trade issues.

"Trade between our two countries has brought tremendous benefit to the people of both countries," Wen said. "We will still try to promote a balance in our bilateral trade in an active and positive approach."

"We have demonstrated our utmost sincerity, and we are very much ready to increase our imports from your country," Wen told Lou Dobbs.

He did add one caveat: "We hope the United States will open more to China, especially in the high-tech sector."

By People's Daily Online


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