US President George W. Bush said on Thursday that China is a great country with vast potential and it is in Washington's best interests to develop good relations with Beijing.
President Bush made the remarks at a photo option with visiting Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen just before the two leaders met at the White House for talks Thursday afternoon.
"China is a great country. China has got vast potential. And we 've got common interests in China, and I look forward to discussing our interests," Bush said.
Bush said that the US-China relationship will be a complex one, in which the two sides can find common ground in some areas while disagreeing in others. "Any disagreements we will have, we will conduct ourselves with mutual respect," he added.
Bush's remarks have found an echo from Vice Premier Qian. "I fully agree to what President Bush just said. Indeed, China and the United States are two major countries. To maintain friendly relations and cooperation is in the interest of Asia, the Pacific region and the world at large."
"Where we have shared interests, we can advance our relationship forward. Where we disagree, we can have a very good exchange of views. Some issues can be approached in the spirit of seeking common ground while shelving the differences," Qian said.
"I'm sure ways can be found to solve all the problems," he added.
The Chinese vice premier, who arrived here from New York City on Wednesday, depicted his current visit as "a very successful one." He said that Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President Bush, through exchange of letters, have already "reached a common consensus which has laid a sound foundation for the growth of our relationship in the new century."
Qian reiterated his warm welcome to Bush's anticipated visit to Beijing after he attends the APEC (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting later this year in Shanghai, where he is expected to hold his first summit with President Jiang.
"I do want to say how much I'm looking forward to going to China. I'll be going next fall. The (Chinese) government has invited me to go to Beijing, and I accept the invitation. We'll work out the arrangements, and I'm really looking forward to it, " President Bush said.
Bush's father, former President George Bush, used to work in Beijing as the liaison officer before the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1979. The senior couple of Bushes have won high respect from the Chinese people for their consistent efforts to cultivate Sino-US relations.
"The Chinese, I'm convinced, liked my father because he married well," the jubilee president cracked a quip, arousing laughter among the correspondents at present. "You know, my mother's very well respected in China, as is my dad, because they spent time there and they befriended a lot of folks who are now leaders," Bush said.
"As a young man, I visited my mother and dad in China in 1975, and I look forward to my return. I can't wait to see the change, the contrast between when I was younger fellow and now, as kind of an older guy," Bush said
"I look forward to seeing the modernization that has taken place. I look forward to seeing the beautiful countryside that I remember so well," said the nostalgic Bush.
"But most of all I look forward to getting to know the leaders of China. I think the best thing our delegation will do is to be able to sit down face to face and have an honest dialogue," he said.
When asked about arms sales to Taiwan, Bush said, "no decision has been made yet as to the sale of weapons to Taiwan."
(Xinhua 03/23/2001)
