China's National People's Congress (NPC) values friendly exchanges and cooperation with the US Senate, and is willing to make full use of the exchange mechanism between them, said China's top legislator Wu Bangguo Monday.

Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, made the remarks in his talks with Ted Stevens, president pro tempore of the US Senate, who arrived Sunday for an eight-day official goodwill visit as Wu's guest.

Wu said both China and the United States are important countries in the world. To develop the Sino-US ties is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples, and also conducive to world peace, stability and development.

Wu noted although the two countries have differences, they also have extensive common interests and cooperation foundation. The two sides should view bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective, admit and respect differences, enhance dialogues and consultation, appropriately address the differences and each other's concerns, continuously expand common interests, and deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation in a bid to push forward the stable and healthy development of Sino-US relations.

Wu said the Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue in Sino-US relations, because it concerns China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and the national feelings of all the Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots.

China always adheres to the principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" on the Taiwan question, and is willing to make utmost efforts with greatest sincerity to resolve the issue by peaceful means, Wu said.

However, China will never tolerate Taiwan independence nor will it allow anyone to split Taiwan from China, he stressed.

China hopes the US side will observe the three Sino-US joint communiqués and translate the commitments into concrete actions, do more to foster peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, and send no wrong signals to the Taiwan independence forces, Wu said.

Upon the Hong Kong issue, Wu said since Hong Kong's return to China more than seven years ago, the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy, as well as the Basic Law, have been fully implemented by the Chinese government.
 
As a result, Hong Kong's stability and its position as an international center of trade, finance and shipping have been further consolidated, Wu added.

Wu said the interpretation of the annex rules of the Basic Law made by the NPC Standing Committee in April this year and the decision it made on issues of electing Hong Kong's Chief Executive in 2007 and forming the Legislative Council (LegCo) in 2008 are completely consistent with China's Constitution and the Basic Law, aimed at maintaining Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability.

Wu said he hopes that the US side will keep its promises on the Hong Kong issue, which is in the common interests of the international community including the United States.

Wu also spoke highly of the constructive role played by Stevens and his party in pushing forward the Sino-US relations. He said that Stevens' visit will surely further the relationship between the NPC and the US senate.

Stevens said the continuous development of US-China relations not only meets the common interests of the two peoples, but is also conducive to regional and world peace and stability.

The US side highly values the formal start-up of the exchange mechanism between the US Senate and China's NPC, he said, adding that the regular dialogues and exchanges between the two parliaments will play an important role in promoting mutual understanding and US-China relations.

Stevens reiterated that the US side sticks to the one-China policy, and will continue to develop US-China constructive and cooperative relations based on this policy.

Formal talks between the vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Sheng Huaren and the highest-ranking official from the US Congress took place Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency August 3, 2004)