"Once the Taiwan authorities accept the one-China principle, the two sides across the Taiwan Straits may resume talks, and anything can be discussed," Vice-Premier Qian Qichen said.

He was speaking at a luncheon organized by the National Committee on US-China Relations, the US-China Business Council, the US-China Policy Foundation and the Nixon Centre while on his tour of the United States.

The Taiwan question, especially US arms sales to the island, is widely seen as the most thorny issue in Sino-US relations.

"The root cause of tension across the Straits lies with separatist attempts in Taiwan," Qian said.

China has warned the United States that it should act responsibly over the Taiwan question.

China is resolutely opposed to US arms sales to Taiwan and to incorporating the island into its planned Theatre Missile Defence (TMD) system.

China has already made solemn representations to the US side on many occasions and demanded that the United States fully recognize the danger of any arms sales to Taiwan.

During meetings with US officials from the president down, Qian made it clear that China demands the United States be earnest in responding to China's representations and strictly observe the one-China policy, the three joint communiques and relevant commitments it has made.

"To honour these commitments is vital for Sino-US relations," Qian said. "An early reunification will be conducive to a healthy development of bilateral ties and to peace in the Asia-Pacific region, and the world at large."

The US government has not made the final decision yet as to whether to sell arms to Taiwan.

A Xinhua report said that US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday offered assurances that the United States will sell no weapon systems to Taiwan that violates a 1982 agreement with China.

The secretary of state said that the United States will honour the US-China Joint Communique issued on August 17, 1982, which forbids the transfer of weapons to Taiwan qualitatively or quantitatively superior to those of any previous year.

China has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the TMD system and the National Missile Defence (NMD) system.

When meeting the press before leaving for Beijing, Qian reiterated that development of the NMD system will jeopardize the strategic balance of the world, would trigger a new arms race and hamper the process of arms control and disarmament.

China is willing to talk with the United States on this issue, said Qian.

Qian also touched upon the issue of human rights, another thorny issue between China and the United States, during his speech.

Admitting differences, Qian called for dialogue to increase mutual understanding and expand common ground.

The vice-premier said that "never before has the human rights situation in China been so good."

Concerning the issue of Falun Gong, Qian said that the cult not only despises Protestantism, Catholicism and Buddhism, but also fools and entraps people.

"In order to safeguard the human rights and freedoms of the Chinese people, the government has outlawed the organization in accordance with the law," he said.

Qian stressed that Sino-US friendship serves the interests of not only the people of the two countries, but the whole world as well.

Spelling out the two countries' common ground, such as their desire for a peaceful world, a more effective United Nations, the non-proliferation of weapons and economic development, Qian said that China and the United States have broad prospects for future co-operation.

In the recent exchange of letters between President Jiang Zemin and President George W. Bush, both leaders reached an important consensus on Sino-US relations on further promoting bilateral relations.

Qian particularly mentioned economic co-operation between the two nations, pledging that China will open its market even wider to the outside world with the nation's entry into the World Trade Organization.

"American businesses are welcome to compete in the huge Chinese market, making friends and money at the same time," said Qian.

After the speech, he wound up his week-long visit to the United States and returned to Beijing yesterday.

(China Daily 03/26/2001)