Chinese Top Legislator Meets US Member of House

Chinese Top Legislator Meets U.S. House Member

Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said Monday that Sino-US relations, have generally maintained an improving and developing trend this year thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides.

Li made the remarks during a meeting with Bill Archer, member of the US House of Representatives from Texas and chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, at this summer resort some 300 kilometers away from Beijing.

Li appreciated Archer's active support over the past years for the improvement and development of the China-US relations, and his efforts at the US Congress in this regard.

A healthy and stable development of the relations between China and the US will serve the common interests of both countries and peoples as well as the peace and stability of the region and the entire world, Li Peng stated.

The Sino-US relations, have generally maintained an improving and developing trend since the beginning of this year thanks to the joint efforts of the two sides, and progress has been made in some areas in terms of cooperation and exchange, Li noted.

The NPC chairman said as China and the United States share common interests on many issues, they should not let the differences on some issues stand in the way of developing bilateral relations.

Archer said great changes have taken place since his last visit to China in 1977. This demonstrated that China's policy of reform and opening to the outside world is a successful one. He stressed he has always stood for developing the friendly and cooperative relations with China.

There is no reason why US and China should become enemies, he said. The two sides should enhance understanding and cooperation. The internal affairs of a country should be decided upon by its own people, and should not be interfered by any foreign powers.

Trade issues, in particular, should not become a "weapon" to interfere in other countries' internal matters.

Over the past years, an increasing number of US congressmen have visited China, and NPC member delegations also visited the United States. Li said that those visits have helped increase mutual understanding, and such visits should continue.

China's NPC is willing to maintain and strengthen links with the US Congress so as to deepen mutual understanding, broaden common ground and play positive role in helping improve and develop the bilateral ties, Li Peng said.

Besides Beijing, the American guests are scheduled to visit northwest China's Shaanxi province and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.