Premier Zhu Rongji Meets US Secretary of State Albright

Chinese Premier Meets US Secretary of State

Premier Zhu Rongji met with U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright Thursday and discussed with her about bilateral relations, the Taiwan issue, and the issue of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR).

Zhu said that under the direct care and efforts by the heads of the two states, China-US relations have scored improvement and development through the joint efforts of the two sides.

At present, China-US relations faces new opportunities of development, he said.

To maintain a healthy and stable development of China-US relations, the most important thing is to keep in mind the general situation of bilateral relations and the common interests of the people of two countries.

The two sides should handle their relations from a strategic and long-term point of view, and in particular, they should stick to the basic principles guiding international relations, including mutual respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity, equality and mutual benefit and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, Zhu stressed.

Zhu stressed that the One-China policy is the basis and prerequisite for a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue, and the Chinese government will never allow Taiwan independence or separatist action in any form.

China asks the U.S. to stick to the One-China principle, abide by the three joint communiques and the "three nos" commitments.

Albright said that the U.S. fully understands the importance of the Taiwan Issue to China and the Chinese people. U.S. President Clinton, she herself and other officials of the U.S. Administration have reiterated its One-China policy on various occasions.

The U.S. government adheres to the One-China policy, upholds the three U.S.-China joint communiques, and does not support Taiwan "independence," "one China, one Taiwan," nor will it support Taiwan to join any international organization open only for sovereign states, she was quoted by officials of the Foreign Ministry as saying.

She added that that policy of U.S. side remains unchanged.

On the PNTR issue, Albright said that the U.S. Administration aims to solve the PNTR issue as early as possible, and the U.S. government and the people of different walks of life are making unremitting efforts for that.

She added that the public in the U.S. now have a better understanding of China, and have further realized the importance of developing U.S.-China economic and trade relations as well as the overall relations between the two countries.

Zhu said that it is the duty of the U.S. side to solve the PNTR issue in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO). To resolve the issue is also the basis and prerequisite to implement the Sino-U.S. agreement on China's entry into the WTO.

The premier said that it was a wise decision of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass the PNTR issue not long ago. An early settlement of the issue will benefit both China and the United States.

He said that the U.S. government, the democrats and the republicans as well as people from of various circles of the United States have made efforts for that, and the Chinese government spoke highly of their efforts.

But he pointed out that the relevant bill also contains articles that try to interfere in China's internal affairs and to damage China's interests under various kinds of pretexts. To these the Chinese government is firmly opposed to and will not accept.