President Hu Jintao said in Santiago Saturday that China and the United States have made positive progress in their constructive and cooperative relationship in the past four years and that China will work for steady development of bilateral ties in the coming four years.  

When talking with US President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the 12th APEC informal leadership meeting, Hu noted that bilateral high-level dialogue and contacts at various levels have increased, with new progress in cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, law enforcement and the fight against terror, and that exchanges between the two armies have basically resumed.

Facts have demonstrated that the two countries share broad common interests and should cooperate in various fields, Hu said.

The coming four years would be an important period for the development of the Sino-US ties, Hu said, urging joint efforts to further promote the steady development of bilateral ties.

Bush, reelected early this month for another four-year term, said that the United States is willing to further strengthen its ties with China and to step up consultations and coordination on major regional and international issues for a better world.

The two presidents also exchanged views on the Taiwan question.

Hu said China highly appreciates Washington's adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to "Taiwan independence."

Hu noted that Bush had on several occasions reiterated Washington's opposition to "Taiwan independence" and its adherence to the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiqués.

China highly appreciates Bush's stance on this issue, Hu said, referring particularly to Bush's public statement on Dec. 9, 2003, of the opposition to the Taiwan authorities' attempt to unilaterally change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.

Hu said China has always cherished the principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" in solving the Taiwan issue.

He said China will try every means possible under the one-China principle to reach a peaceful solution to the Taiwan problem.

However, he said, China would never tolerate any attempt to separate Taiwan from the motherland and that "Taiwan independence" is totally unacceptable.

"It will not only ruin peace across the Taiwan Straits but also gravely wreck peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region," Hu said. "Both China and the United States should perceive the perils of 'Taiwan independence' from such a strategic height."

For his part, Bush said the United States understands that sensitivity of the Taiwan problem and that it will stick to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués, oppose any words or deeds to unilaterally alter the status quo and declare independence, and give no inconsistent signals to Taiwan authorities.

On the nuclear standoff on the Korean Peninsula, Hu and Bush agreed to resolve the issue through dialogue and peaceful means.

Hu told Bush China champions a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue so as to maintain peace and stability on the peninsula.

The nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is complicated and all parties concerned should show patience, flexibility and sincerity in resolving it, Hu said.

China will continue close coordination and cooperation with all parties concerned to push for the convocation of a new round of six-party talks at an early date, Hu said.

Bush said the United States appreciates China's positive role in resolving the Korean nuclear issue, and that the US would continue to advance the six-party talks for a peaceful solution of the problem.

The six-party talks involve China, the US, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Republic of Korea, Japan and Russia. Three rounds of the talks have been held in Beijing so far.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2004)