Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC), and Cao Gangchuan, CMC vice chairman, state councilor and minister of defense of China, met in Beijing Wednesday with Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Armed Forces respectively.  

Guo said that generally speaking, the bilateral relations between China and the United States are good at the moment. Leaders of the two countries often exchanged views on bilateral relations and important international and regional issues, which enhanced the mutual trust between the leaders and the peoples of the two countries.

Cao said the development of bilateral relations between two armed forces conforms to the common interest of both sides and is beneficial to the regional and world peace and stability.

The frequent contacts and exchanges are very helpful to further mutual understanding and trust between the two forces, he said, and the relationship between the two armed forces will further develop healthily and steadily.

Both Guo and Cao emphasized that the Chinese government insisted on the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems." But, they said, the attempt to split Taiwan from China by the Taiwan authorities is unbearable.

Myers said that to develop relations with China in all areas is beneficial to both nations. In recent years, leaders of both armed forces strengthened bilateral relations by mutual visits and other forms of exchanges.

The US government will stick to the one-China policy, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2004)