US President George W. Bush met with the visiting Chinese Foreign
Minister Tang Jiaxuan in the White House on Friday. Tang also met
with US Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security
Advisor Condoleezza Rice on the same day.
President George W. Bush took the opportunity to express his thanks
to Chinese President Jiang Zemin for China’s condolences after last
week’s terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. He said that
the United States was willing to strengthen its cooperation with
China and the rest of the world in fighting against terrorism.
President Bush also congratulated China on its forthcoming
accession to the World Trade Organization. He said that both the
United States and China are great countries and that his visit to
China this autumn would have profound significance. President Bush
is expected to attend an APEC economic
leaders meeting in Shanghai next month, when he will meet with
Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said that China attaches
great importance to the relations with the United States and he
believed that the forthcoming meeting between top leaders of the
two countries this autumn would be surely conducive to improve the
bilateral relations.
In
talks with US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Tang Jiaxuan said
the terrorist attacks were not only disastrous to the Americans,
but also a challenge to the world’s peace and security. The two
sides reached a five-point consensus:
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Both sides will step up their preparations for President Bush’s
upcoming visit to China and work towards a successful summit
between Bush and Chinese President Jiang Zemin.
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Consultations and cooperation will be shortly held between experts
of the two countries on the anti-terrorist issue, and such efforts
will be increased in the UN Security Council.
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Diplomatic officials from both countries will hold vice ministerial
meetings early next year on Asian and international situations.
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Both sides will increase cooperation to curb the spread of deadly
disease AIDS.
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The governments of the two countries will hold dialogues shortly
about human rights according to the reached consensus.
Colin Powell emphasized that in dealing with the Taiwan issue, the
United States continues to stick to the “One China” principle and
the three joint communiques between China and US.
Minister Tang also met National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice
on the same day. Rice said that the United States hopes to
establish a powerful and fruitful relation with China and that the
two countries should strengthen cooperation in promoting peace,
stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
(china.org.cn 09/22/2001)