Chinese President Jiang Zemin expressed in Beijing on Thursday his belief that so long as China and the United States bear in mind the larger picture, take a long-term perspective and abide by the principles in the three Sino-US joint communiques, the relationship will make even bigger strides forward in the years ahead.

"The Chinese side is ready to join the US side in reflecting on the past and looking to the future, increasing exchanges and cooperation, and enhancing understanding and trust," Jiang said when asked by a reporter to comment on Sino-US relations over the past 30 years, while meeting the press together with visiting US President George W. Bush.

February 21 and 28 this year marks respectively the 30th anniversary of the first visit to China by US President Richard Nixon, and the release of the Shanghai Communique.

Jiang hailed the current visit by President Bush as "highly meaningful" as his visit coincides with the day of Nixon's visit 30 years ago.

Thirty years ago, he said, leaders of China and the United States acted together to put an end to mutual estrangement and opened the gate for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. History has proven that it was with great vision that our leaders took this major move.

Jiang said that the growth of bilateral ties over the years has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and played an important role in safeguarding peace in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.

At present, he said, despite profound changes in the international situation, China and the United States have more rather than less shared interests, and more rather than less common responsibility for world peace. The importance of the relationship has increased, rather than decreased.

Therefore, he said, to build a constructive and cooperative relationship serves the desire of not only the people of the two countries, but also of the people throughout the world.

US President George W. Bush said at the press conference that the United States will be a steady partner in China's historic transition to greater prosperity.

Bush said that tremendous changes have taken place in China in the last 30 years and he believes that equally tremendous changes lie ahead.

These changes will not only have profound impact on China itself but also on the international community, Bush said.

Chinese President Jiang Zemin said "China will not go for bullying or threatening other countries" even if China becomes more developed in the future.

He stressed that focusing on economic development and improvement of people's life is China's long-term central task and that what China wants most is a peaceful and tranquil international environment with long-term stability.

Jiang cited an old Chinese saying "do not do onto others what you would not have others do onto you" and pointed out that facts have proven already and will continue to prove that China is a "staunch force dedicated to the maintenance of peace in the region and the world at large."

Jiang said "we are living in a world of diversity." As two major countries with different national conditions, China and the United States have indeed disagreement in certain areas but also share "broad and important" common interests.

The old mindset which views relationship between countries as either of alliance or of confrontation ought to be abandoned, said Jiang, adding that a new security concept which features security through mutual trust and cooperation should be established.

He said it's true that since China began implementing reform and opening-up policies, its national strength has grown and its people's living standard has improved but that, compared with developed countries, China's economic and cultural development remains quite backward.

With a population of over 1.2 billion, the road ahead is still very long before China can basically complete modernization and deliver a better-off life to all its people, stressed Jiang.

On the Korean Peninsula issue, Jiang said, "We have all along pursued such a position, that is, we want Korean Peninsula to have peace and stability. We hope that conflicts between DPRK and ROK can be solved through dialogues. We also sincerely hope the contact between the United States and DPRK will be soon resumed."

Meanwhile, Bush said that he had told Jiang his offer of dialogue made in Seoul Wednesday is a real offer and the United States "will be willing" to meet with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"And I asked his (Jiang's) help to convey the message to Kim Jiong Il" if Jiang speaks to Kim, Bush said.

On the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Jiang said he is "very pleased" to see that Afghanistan is now under peaceful reconstruction.

"I wish them well," he said in response to a relevant question, "I hope they will succeed in rebuilding their country and enjoy national unity and peace."

Reiterating that China is "firmly opposed to international terrorism of all forms," Jiang said China's position on the anti-terrorism issue has not changed from what he had made clear to President Bush when they met during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders Meeting in October last year.

Meanwhile, Jiang stressed that China always holds that in handling international issues, all countries are equal and should resolve their disputes through dialogues and peaceful means.

Jiang also said that "peace is to be valued most" on the issue of Iraq.

(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2002)