Tang said that since Chinese President Jiang Zemin's October visit to the United States, Sino-US ties had developed with a good momentum, with exchanges and cooperation making progress in the war against terrorism, trade and economic ties and military-to-military contacts, and consultations and cooperation bearing fruit in significant regional and international issues.

Tang said the country's foreign policies had been fully expounded in the report delivered to the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). No matter how the international situation changed, China would, as always, pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and strive to maintain world peace and promote common development.

China would continue to improve and develop its relations with developed countries, including the United States, Tang said, adding China and the United States should lose no time in implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, expand their shared interests, enhance dialogue and cooperation and properly handle their differences to promote the development of constructive and cooperative relations.

Armitage said the successful meeting between Jiang and US President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas, had pointed the direction for the development of the Sino-US ties. The maintenance of good relations was of vital significance to the two nations and the world. The United States was dedicated to maintaining long-term cooperation with China and was willing to join in strengthening exchanges and cooperation.

Tang said the steady progress of Sino-US ties hinged on the proper handling of the Taiwan issue. As pointed out in Jiang's report to the 16th CPC National Congress, China would continue to implement the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" and act on the eight-point proposal for developing cross-Strait relations and advancing the process of peaceful national reunification, striving for a peaceful reunification with utmost sincerity. The Chinese people, meanwhile, would never allow anyone to split Taiwan from the country.

Tang expressed the hope that the United States would faithfully observe its commitments to China, stop upgrading relations with Taiwan, stop selling Taiwan sophisticated weapons and engage more in activities conducive to China's peaceful reunification.

Armitage said the US understood China's concerns over the Taiwan issue, saying the US government would adhere to the one-China principle, abide by the three joint communiques signed by the two nations, and give no support to "Taiwan independence".

He stressed the United States would not alter its stance.

Armitage briefed Tang on the US view of the Iraq issue. Tang said the Chinese government maintained that Iraq should strictly observe Resolution 1441 of the United Nations Security Council and other relevant resolutions, and the problem be solved politically within the UN framework.

Tang said all parties concerned should maintain the good momentum of the weapon inspections, and in accordance with the inspection report, the Security Council should discuss and make decisions on the next steps. He pledged the readiness of China to maintain consultations with the United States on the issue.

On December 11, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held consultations with Armitage, exchanging views on Iraq, Sino-US ties, the Korean Peninsula situation and other issues of common concern. They agreed that Sino-US ties were facing great opportunities for further development, and the two countries should strengthen high-level strategic dialogue, promote cooperation in countering terrorism, and in trade and economic spheres, maintain consultations and coordination on significant regional and international issues, and strive to boost cooperation.

Assistant Foreign Minister Zhou Wenzhong and US Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt, Jr. were present at the meeting and consultations.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2002)