Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called on the US government on Tuesday to handle the Taiwan issue properly and support China's peaceful reunification to ensure the healthy and smooth development of the Sino-US relations.  

Speaking at a dinner hosted by nine American organizations, Wen said safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity is the paramount national interest and an unshakable principle for any country.

"Our fundamental policy on the settlement of the Taiwan question is 'peaceful reunification' and 'one country, two systems'," Wen said. "We have all along been doing our utmost to achieve the ultimate reunification in a peaceful manner."

"We sincerely hope to see a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. So long as there is the slightest hope, we will not give up our endeavor for peace," he said. "However, our endeavor for peace has time and again been challenged by the separatist forces in Taiwan."

He said the Chinese government and people respect the legitimate democratic rights exercised by Taiwan compatriots, but will absolutely not tolerate the "Taiwan independence" forces' attempt to separate Taiwan from China under the pretext of democracy.

"The separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' carried out by the Taiwan authorities are seriously undermining the political basis of Sino-US cooperation and our common interests, and putting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region in jeopardy," he said.

"We hope that the US government will handle the Taiwan question properly and support China's peaceful reunification," Wen added.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2003)