Tang arrived in New York earlier in the day for a United Nations Security Council ministerial meeting on Monday (local time), which is expected to discuss global counter-terrorism efforts.

Tang sees a positive trend of development of Sino-US relations and said the two sides should continue to implement the consensus reached last October at a meeting in Crawford, Texas, between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his US counterpart, George W. Bush.

The two sides should maintain bilateral contacts at various levels, continue to strengthen coordination on major international issues, and further improve and develop their relations in the new year, Tang said.

Powell said Sino-US relations are developing in a positive direction and the US side is satisfied with its increasing cooperation with China on the economy, trade and counter-terrorism.

They also discussed the Taiwan question and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula which attracted world attention after the Democratic People's Republic of Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty earlier this month.

Tang said the Taiwan question is one of China's core interests and that handling the issue in a careful and appropriate way is critical to the stable development of Sino-US relations.

He expressed the hope that the US side will stick to the one-China policy, fulfill its commitments to the three Sino-US joint communiqu?s and honor its pledge not to support Taiwan "independence.'' He urged Washington to handle the Taiwan question in a cautious manner and avoid sending any messages that could encourage separatist forces in Taiwan.

Powell said the US side understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan question and that he is willing to reaffirm the commitments on the issue made by President Bush during his meeting with President Jiang last October.

On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Powell said the US side is seeking a peaceful solution through diplomatic means and the DPRK should drop its nuclear program.

Noting that China is very concerned with the nuclear issue, Tang reiterated that China stands for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and believes that an early resumption of talks between parties concerned is key to the resolution of the issue.

(China Daily January 21, 2003)