China and the United States can smoothly develop their bilateral relations only if the Taiwan question is properly handled, said Premier Zhu Rongji Sunday during his meeting with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Zhu reiterated the Chinese government's stand on the Taiwan question, hoping the US Government would abide by the three Sino-US Joint communiques.

China and the United States share common interests, and a healthy and stable relationship between the two countries will benefit world peace and development, he said.

Kissinger visited China in 1971, which was the prelude to the historic visit by US President Richard Nixon in 1972, paving the way for the normalization of bilateral relations.

He is in China to attend commemorative ceremonies marking the 30th anniversary of the issuing of the Sino-US Shanghai Communique at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Kissinger said he was glad to see the progress made by the two countries in their relationship in the past three decades, adding he would make further efforts to promote bilateral ties.

Kissinger was also received by Vice-President Hu Jintao, who spoke highly of the historic significance of Nixon's visit and the issuing of the Sino-US Shanghai Communique.

During his meeting with Kissinger, Beijing Mayor Liu Qi, who is also president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the 29th Olympiad, said Beijing's preparatory work for the 2008 Olympic Games is moving ahead smoothly.

"Beijing will try its utmost to stage the best-ever Olympic Games," said Liu. "In order to build Beijing into an environment-friendly city under of the theme of the 'Green Olympics,' we will invest billions of US dollars in environmental protection projects."

A ceremony was held on Saturday evening to mark the anniversary. Vice-Premier Li Lanqing attended it with Kissinger.

(China Daily April 15, 2002)