Exactly 30 years after former U.S. President Richard Nixon conducted his historic China visit, President George W. Bush paid a working visit to China on February 21 and 22, 2002. This major event is of profound significance to promoting Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations in the new century.

Heads of state of the two countries spoke highly of the development of bilateral ties. Chinese President Jiang Zemin said during his meeting with President Bush that the Chinese and American people, as well as people in other parts of the world, would be pleased at the sound momentum of development of Sino-U.S. relations. President Bush also expressed to the world through the Chinese and foreign media that bilateral ties are mature, and that China and the United States respect each other, which is very important for the two countries and the entire world. He described his talk with Jiang as "candid and positive."

The two countries determined a new timetable for continuing high-level political contacts, according to which, Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao visited the United States in April, and President Jiang would do so in October. Frequent contacts between leaders of the two countries indicate that Sino-U.S. ties are developing soundly.

Besides maintaining high-level strategic dialogue and contacts, leaders of the two countries also agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation in the fields of trade, energy, science and technology, environmental protection, and prevention and treatment of AIDS.

Leaders of the two countries held in-depth discussions on anti-terrorism. They agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit, so as to consolidate the long- and medium-term anti-terrorism exchange and cooperation mechanism between the two countries. In Beijing, President Bush again thanked China for its support to the United States during the global anti-terrorism campaign.

Before this, Jiang and Bush achieved important results in their successful meeting during the Ninth APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Shanghai on October 19, 2001, which helped bring Sino-U.S. relations back on normal track, with a positive momentum appearing in their development. The two sides reached an important consensus on making joint efforts to develop a constructive and cooperative bilateral relationship.

In 2001, Sino-U.S. trade relations developed soundly, in spite of a slowdown of world economy and economic recession in the United States. According to Chinese customs statistics, the volume of Sino-U.S. trade in the first 10 months totaled US$66.8 billion, up 8.9 percent year on year. The first three quarters in 2001 saw addition of 1,872 new U.S.-invested projects in China, with actual investment totaling US$3.18 billion, up 37.76 percent over the corresponding period in 2000.

China's formal entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2001 is of great significance to both China and the United States. This put an end to the U.S.'s annual review China's PNTR (permanent normal trade relations) status, also known as the most-favored-nation status. With removal of this man-made political obstacle, bilateral trade relations will be more stable. China's entry into the WTO will vigorously push forward further the development of bilateral trade relations.

Bilateral exchange and cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science and technology, health and sports maintained sound development, and contact between the two peoples increased in 2001.

The major difference between China and the United States lies in four fields¨Cthe Taiwan issue, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and technologies, missile defense system and human rights.

The U.S. Senate decided to indefinitely postpone voting on the so-called "China Nonproliferation Act," while reviewing China's PNTR status. China has been persistently against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and has conducted strict and effective control over relevant aspects according to its nonproliferation commitments, making due contributions to international nonproliferation. China firmly opposes the attempts of a few U.S. congressmen to make use of the nonproliferation issue to interfere in China's internal affairs and fray Sino-U.S. relations. These people ignore China's great endeavors in the nonproliferation field, attempt for the passage of the China Nonproliferation Act by the U.S. Congress, and hamper the improvement and development of Sino-U.S. relations. Their attempts are proved to enjoy no popular support, and can never succeed.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld announced the national missile defense (NMD) and theater missile defense (TMD) programs on January 20, 2002, and demanded to revise the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty accordingly. This decision of the United States, contrary to international arms control and disarmament efforts, will have a far-reaching negative influence on global and regional strategic balance and stability in the 21st century. China has shown deep concern toward the issue. It believes that the development, deployment and transfer of anti-missile system with strategic defense potential can by no means enhance security and check missile proliferation. On the contrary, they will endanger security, stimulate missile proliferation, and contradict the ABM Treaty. China also believes that the U.S.'s joint development of advanced anti-missile system with some countries will severely undermine the security and stability of related regions. It emphasizes that the provision by any country of any weaponry system including TMD to China's Taiwan Province is a serious infringement on its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will be strongly opposed by Chinese people. China demands that the United States abide by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqu¨¦s and related commitments, and not proliferate the TMD system and related technologies to Taiwan in any forms.

The Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue at the core of Sino-U.S. relations. Abiding by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqu¨¦s and handling the Taiwan issue prudently and appropriately are key to stable and sound Sino-U.S. relations. Regarding the Taiwan issue, all U.S. administrations have explicitly pledged to the Chinese Government and people that they would stick to the one China policy, abide by the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqu¨¦s, and never support the "independence of Taiwan." China attaches importance to the U.S.'s words, but pays more attention to its deeds.

A U.S. Department of State spokesman claimed in March 2002 that the United States would continue its effort in helping Taiwan "participate" in the World Health Organization (WHO). China maintains that Taiwan, as part of China, is not qualified to join the WHO, a UN organization whose membership is only for sovereign states. Since 1997, the WHO conference has rejected the so-called draft resolution of Taiwan's "participation" for five successive years. The executive council of the WHO again refused a similar motion in January 2002. It indicates that the Chinese Government's stand toward the issue is understood and supported by most countries. The Taiwan authorities were attempting to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" inside the WHO. Any words or deeds that support or promote the so-called Taiwan "participation" in the WHO are an infringement on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and interference in China's internal affairs.

A senior official from the U.S. Department of State claimed in September 2001 that the United States would resolutely implement the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and its commitment to assist in defending Taiwan, and China could not underestimate the determination and capability of the United States in its assistance to defend Taiwan. China reiterated that the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China, and no foreign country has any right to intervene. The United States has committed to China on the Taiwan issue. China hopes the United States fulfills its commitment, and contributes more to peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait region and the sound development of Sino-U.S. relations.

The Chinese Government will continue to solve the Taiwan issue according to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal brought about by President Jiang. No individuals or forces are allowed to separate Taiwan from China. Opposing "Taiwan independence" and seeking peace and development represents the mainstream public opinion of Taiwan society, and an increasing number of Americans are understanding and recognizing this point. The U.S. Government should follow the historical trend and support China's peaceful reunification. An earlier settlement of the Taiwan issue is not only in accord with the interests of China, but also with peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the interests of the United States.