Bush Pledges to Advance US-China Relations

US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that the new US administration as well as himself has attached great importance to US-China relations and he will work hard to promote the ties between the two nations.

Bush made the remarks when he received the letter of credence from China's newly-appointed Ambassador Yang Jiechi at the Oval Office in the White House.

Yang arrived here last month to succeed Li Zhaoxing as the Chinese ambassador to the United States.

Bush said China is a major country and will become more and more important in the future, and the improvement and development of the relationship between the United States and China will benefit the two countries.

He noted that Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen's visit to the United States, scheduled for March 18-24, is crucial and he looks forward to meeting the vice premier and having an in-depth exchange of views with him on US-China relations.

The US president, who took office on January 20, said there are indeed problems between the two countries, which the American side takes seriously. But he believed that these problems will be addressed in an appropriate way and that US-China ties will continue to make progress in the days to come.

Ambassador Yang said China and the United States should make concerted efforts to develop a sound and stable cooperative relationship, which is in the interest of both countries as well as of the people all over the world.

He emphasized that the heads of state of both countries have voiced willingness to push forward bilateral relations, which is of great significance in providing a good start for China-US relations at the very beginning of a new century and in creating conditions favorable for the development of the long-term relationship between the two countries.

Yang said the upcoming visit to the United States by the Chinese vice premier will play a major role in enhancing mutual understanding and promoting dialogue, exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Yang stressed that to handle the Taiwan issue properly on the basis of the three China-US joint communiques is the key to the sound and steady advancement of relations between the two countries. During the meeting, Yang conveyed greetings of Chinese President Jiang Zemin to Bush, who in return extended thanks and best regards to Jiang.






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