Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Beijing Wednesday with visiting US Vice President Dick Cheney. The two sides exchanged views on bilateral ties, Taiwan, and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

Hu said that in recent years, there had been frequent exchanges between Chinese and US leaders. Cooperation between the two countries was positive and the two sides maintained close consultation and coordination in major international and regional issues, Hu said.

To improve the Sino-US constructive and cooperative relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conducive to world peace and stability, Hu noted.

China is willing to make joint efforts with the US side to steer the general direction of Sino-US ties, strengthen strategic dialogues, enhance political mutual trust, properly handle concerns of each side and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in a bid to reach a sound, stable and in-depth development of the relationship, Hu said.

On the Taiwan issue, Hu said that splittist activities by the "Taiwan Independence" forces constitute the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

"We hope the United States will observe its commitment to adhere to the one-China policy, earnestly follow the three Sino-US joint communiqués, oppose 'Taiwan Independence' and any words or actions by the Taiwan leaders attempting to change Taiwan's status quo, and not to send wrong signals to the Taiwan authorities," Hu told Cheney.

The Chinese government adheres to "peaceful reunification," and "one country, two systems," and is committed to the peaceful solution of the Taiwan issue, but China will not tolerate "Taiwan Independence," Hu said.

Cheney said that the US government will continue to adhere to the one-China policy, which was based on the three joint communiqués between the United States and China, not support "Taiwan Independence," and oppose any unilateral action to change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.

The United States will strive to strengthen and enrich the US-China relationship, Cheney acknowledged.

The development of US-China relations has brought great and substantial benefits for the two peoples, and exerted important influence on international and regional peace and stability, the US official said.

The United States appreciates China's positive role on the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula, he noted.

Cheney conveyed greetings from US President George W. Bush to Hu and the Chinese president asked Cheney to pass on his regards, saying he is expecting to meet with Mr. Bush in the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) economic leaders' meeting this year.

The two sides also exchanged views on other issues of common concern.