A stable and healthy China-US relationship serves the fundamental interest of the Chinese and American peoples as well as peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi at the regular press conference on November 23.

He made the remarks in response to a question requesting comments on the US Republic presidential candidate Governor George W. Bush's recent words that the US should strengthen its relations with its Asia-Pacific allies to have China checked.

Sun said that it is the shared aspiration of the people of all countries in the Asia-Pacific region to promote peace, cooperation and development, and that any attempt to have China "checked" does not conform to the fundamental interest of the people of the Asia- Pacific region.

A statesman with a vision and a sense of responsibility must see clearly the overall interest of China-US relations and the inevitable trend of historical development, he noted.

The spokesman said that an early realization of the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of the entire Chinese people, the people in Taiwan included, adding that the Government and people of China have the confidence and ability to fulfill the grand cause of national reunification.

The Taiwan question is the most sensitive political question at the very core of China-US relations, Sun said, noting that to strictly observe the one-China principle, the three China-US joint communiqu¨¦s and the relevant commitments made by the US side is the solemn commitment made by successive US administrations, both Democratic and Republic.

Sun said that the Chinese people have chosen a road of development suited to China's national conditions and have scored impressive achievements that draw world attention and that the Chinese people will continue to go along this road with full confidence and firm resolve.

We hope that people of vision in the United States will proceed from the fundamental interest of the people of our two countries and make efforts to safeguard and promote China-US relations, he pointed out.