International and regional security were high on the agenda when US President George W. Bush met Guo Boxiong, China's top general, at the White House yesterday. The two leaders also discussed relations between the armed forces of the two countries.  

 

During the meeting Guo, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), conveyed best wishes to Bush from President Hu Jintao. 

 

Guo said the purpose of his visit to the US was to implement the consensus reached by Bush and Hu on increasing exchanges and cooperation between their armed forces. This was agreed during Hu's visit to the US in April. 

 

He said relations between the two armed forces would be deepened by enhancing mutual understanding and trust, fostering friendship and increasing cooperation. 

 

Gaining momentum directly from the presidents of the two nations, current relations between the two armed forces were the best in recent years and the prospects would be even brighter with joint efforts from both sides, he noted. Guo also reaffirmed China's position on the Taiwan issue. 

 

Bush said he actively supported closer ties between the two armed forces and would like to see more military-to-military exchanges and visits. 

 

He noted that the US position on the Taiwan issue was absolutely clear and his government would adhere to the three joint communiqués between the US and China on the issue. The US was opposed to any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits. 

 

During a separate meeting with Stephen Hadley, Bush's national security adviser, earlier on Thursday Guo gave high marks to the current relationship between the armed forces of the two countries. 

 

He noted that during Hu's successful visit to the US in April the presidents of the two nations reached an important consensus on how to promote constructive cooperation in all areas in the 21st century. 

 

Guo also pointed out that although the bilateral military relationship had been continuously improved in recent years, its development lagged behind that of the overall alliances between the two countries. 

 

The general hoped the US would properly handle the Taiwan issue, stop upgrading its military ties with Taiwan and halt the sale of advanced weapons so as not to send the wrong signals to the secessionists. 

 

Hadley stressed that the US attached great importance to US-China relations and would like to see active exchanges and cooperation between their armed forces. 

 

Guo, who started his week-long visit to the US Sunday night, arrived in Washington Monday evening and will fly onward to New York to continue his visit. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2006)