Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said that history had proven that Sino-US relations can make sound and steady progress provided the "one China" policy and the principles enshrined in the three Sino-US joint communiqués were strictly abided by, interference was avoided, and the Taiwan question properly handled.
Zhu made the remarks in Beijing on Thursday while meeting visiting former US President George Bush, who is here as guest of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
Zhu welcomed Bush, father of incumbent US President George W. Bush, and voiced his appreciation for Bush's concern and support for the development of Sino-US relations in the past.
Zhu noted that the development momentum of Sino-US relations was generally good recently, pointing to George W. Bush's two successful visits to China and Bush's valuable conversation with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai on Tuesday.
He said that China and the US were complementary economically, and the two countries had conducted fruitful cooperation in many fields, which was in the interests of the two peoples.
However, bilateral relations suffered undue interference, said Zhu.
Zhu also briefed Bush on China's economic growth.
Bush expressed his pleasure at meeting with Zhu, saying that this visit had enabled him to witness China's achievements in economic and social developments.
He said that the US would continue to follow the "one China" policy and the principles laid out in the three bilateral joint communiqués.
He said he would continue to promote bilateral relations.
Bush noted that China's peaceful reunification conformed to the interests of the US He expressed the hope that more Americans would visit China to learn more about its progress in various fields, which will help promote the sound development of US-China relations.
(People's Daily May 10, 2002)
