Chinese President Hu Jintao and US president George W. Bush conversed over telephone Saturday night in an exchange of views on further developing Sino-US relations and they gave a favorable appraisal of Premier Wen Jiabao's recent successful visit to the United States.

President Bush briefed President Hu on the view of the US side on the current situation in Iraq, voicing the willingness to maintain close communication with the Chinese side.

The US president also spoke highly of China's positive role in resolving the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way. He reaffirmed that the US side would adhere to the stance for a peaceful settlement.

"New developments have been made in the Iraqi situation, which I hope will be conducive to the peace and tranquility in Iraq," Hu said, adding that the Chinese side is ready to maintain contact and coordination with relevant parties on the reconstruction of Iraq.

With regard to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Hu expressed the hope that non-nuclearization can be realized through a way acceptable to the parties concerned.

"The Chinese side will continue maintaining close contact with the relevant parties to facilitate the holding of the second Beijing six-party talks at an early date and enable the talks to yield positive results," the Chinese president said.

Hu appreciated Bush's recent reaffirmation for the adherence to one-China policy, observance of the three Sino-US joint communiques, and in opposition to Taiwan independence and to the words and actions of Taiwan authorities aimed at altering Taiwan's status.

"On the Taiwan question, the Chinese government is willing to achieve the reunification peacefully with its utmost sincerity and greatest efforts, but Taiwan independence cannot be tolerated definitely," Hu said.

Bush said the stance of the US government in the Taiwan issue was clear-cut, and the US side opposed any words and actions to change the status quo of Taiwan unilaterally.

(Xinhua News Agency December 21, 2003)