China is willing to make joint efforts with the United States to steer the general direction of Sino-US ties, properly handle concerns of each side and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in a bid to reach a sound, stable and in-depth growth of the relationship.

President Hu Jintao made the remarks in Beijing Wednesday when meeting with visiting US Vice President Dick Cheney, who arrived Tuesday afternoon for a three-day working visit as guest of Zeng Qinghong, the Chinese vice-president.

Hu, Chairman Jiang Zemin of the Central Military Commission, and Premier Wen Jiabao met separately with Cheney Wednesday morning.

Both sides agreed that the trend for the overall development of Sino-US relations is good. The two countries are continuously making progress in coordination and cooperation in numerous sectors despite some differences existing between them.

They also reached consensus on developing bilateral constructive and cooperative relationship, which is in the fundamental interests of the people of the two nations and conducive to peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

China will continue to strengthen strategic dialogues and enhance political mutual trust with the U.S. in an effort to push for a sound, stable and in-depth development of the Sino-US relations, according to the Chinese side.

Vice-President Cheney said US-China ties are very important and that the US side will strive to develop the relations continuously.

On Sino-US trade, the Chinese leaders noted that China is willing to further enhance political mutual trust and trade and economic cooperation with the United States, and hopes the U.S. would give it full market economy status as early as possible and relax barriers in exporting high-tech products.

Vice-President Cheney said China has become the third largest trading partner of the United States, and the two countries mean more and more to each other. Further expanding their reciprocal cooperation conforms to the two peoples' common interests and will certainly benefit the world, he said.

Cheney also pledged the willingness of the Untied States to work hard with China to solve problems in their trade and economic ties.

The Taiwan issue is a crucial topic during the meetings between the two sides. The Chinese leaders underscored that splittist activities by the "Taiwan Independence" forces posed the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

The Chinese government adheres to the fundamental principles of "peaceful reunification", and "one country, two systems", and is dedicated to the peaceful solution of the Taiwan issue, but China will not tolerate "Taiwan Independence", they noted.

"We hope the United States will observe its commitment to adhere to the one-China policy, earnestly follow the three Sino-US joint communiques, oppose 'Taiwan Independence' and any words or actions by Taiwan leaders attempting to change Taiwan's status quo, and not send wrong signals to the Taiwan authorities," the Chinese leaders told Cheney.

Cheney said the US government will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, which was based on the three joint communiques between the United States and China, not support "Taiwan Independence", and oppose any unilateral action to change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.

Zeng held talks with Cheney Tuesday evening, and the two sides agreed to expand bilateral high-level strategic dialogues and exchanges among other levels, and enhance cooperation in anti-terrorism, trade and economic cooperation, law enforcement, and the exchanges between the two armies.

Cheney, who visited China respectively in 1975, 1994 and 1995, left Beijing for Shanghai Wednesday afternoon. He will make a speech Thursday morning at the prestigious Fudan University, and attend a luncheon of US enterprisers in Shanghai.

This is Cheney's first China tour as the US vice President.

Source: Xinhua