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US Defense Secretary Meets Top Chinese General
US Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said on Monday that next US president will continuously attach importance to the Sino-US relations no matter who will be elected.
Cohen made the remarks when he met with visiting General Yu Yongbo, Director of the General Political Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), just a week before the Americans cast votes for a new president. Cohen also said that the Democratic and Republican Parties have reached a consensus on the development of friendly ties with China.
In his meeting with Yu, also a member of China's Central Military Commission, Cohen stressed the need to further strengthen friendly relations between the two countries as well as the two militaries.
The United States and China have common interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Asian and Pacific region and in the world as a whole, he said.
He added that the United States highly value the development of bilateral relations with China on the basis of mutual benefit.
Cohen pointed out that the Congress' passage of the bill on Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China, which has already been signed into law by President Bill Clinton, will not only strengthen bilateral trade ties but also play a significant role in ensuring steady growth of the relations between the two countries.
Yu said that the Chinese government and military pay great attention to the Sino-U.S. relations, and the purpose of his current visit is to promote mutual understanding, expand common ground and strengthen ties between the two militaries and the two countries.
Yu described the Sino-US relationship as "one of the most important bilateral ties in the world," and stressed that at the turning point of a new century, the two countries, both having influential powers in the world, bear common responsibility for world peace and development.
"The improvement of Sino-US relations is not only in the fundamental interest of the peoples of the two countries, but also conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asian and Pacific region as well as in the whole world," he said.
Yu emphasized that the Taiwan issue constitutes the core of the Sino-US relations, and that handling it properly is the key to the steady development of the relations.
He expressed the hope that the United States would handle the Taiwan issue according to the principles of the three Sino-US Communiques.
Cohen reaffirmed that the United States will continuously adhere to the one-China policy and abide by the three Sino-US Communiques and other relevant commitments on the Taiwan issue.
Meanwhile, Yu held talks on Monday with Under Secretary of Defense Bernard Daniel Rostker. The two sides exchanged views on regional security, bilateral relations and other issues of common concern. They also discussed issues including personnel management and officer training.
Yu, who also met some other senior US military officials in Washington, is scheduled to leave for Hawaii on Tuesday and will visit the Pacific Command of the US military.
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