During the meetings, Hu noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of former US President Richard Nixon's visit to China and the issuing of Sino-US Shanghai Joint Communique.

The Chinese vice-president, who is here on an official visit to the United States, said that although the international situation has undergone profound changes, China and the United States now share more common interests than before and they thus have every reason to further their cooperation in all areas.

He said China recognizes the important role the US Congress has played in developing Sino-US ties and he expressed the hope that the congress would become a promoter of bilateral relations between the two countries.

On the Taiwan issue, Hu stressed that this is the most important and sensitive issue in Sino-US relations, and that proper handling of the issue is the key to healthy and stable development of the two countries' ties.

He reaffirmed that the principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems" as well as President Jiang Zemin's Eight-Point Statement are the basic policy of the Chinese government regarding the settlement of the Taiwan issue.

Hu pointed out that the peaceful reunification of China would be beneficial both to China and the United States. He hoped that the US side would stick to the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiques and earnestly play a constructive role in the process of realizing China's peaceful reunification.

Speaking of the issue of non-proliferation, Hu said China consistently opposes the proliferation weapons of mass destruction and takes a responsible attitude toward export control. He added that China and the United States share the common goal in this regard.

On the human rights issue, he said it is normal that China and the United States hold some different views as they are under different conditions.

"We are of the opinion that China and the United States should conduct dialogue and exchange of views on the basis of equality and mutual respect and non-interference in the other's internal affairs," the Chinese vice president said.

Hu also briefed the US congressional leaders on the situation after China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

He said the entry into the WTO represents a new starting point for China's reform and opening up and is expected to provide more business opportunities and better investment environment to foreign enterprises including those from the United States. He promised that China would firmly honor its WTO commitments.

The meeting in the US Senate was co-hosted by majority leader A. Daschle Thomas and minority leader Trent Lott and attended by Chairman Joseph R. Biden Jr. of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Hu also met Speaker Dennis Hastert of the House of Representatives, majority leader Richard K. Armie and chairmen of various committees. Both sides expressed the view that development of Sino-US ties is beneficial to the two countries.

The US side said they would continue dialogues and cooperation with China on issues of common interests.

(Xinhua News Agency May 2, 2002)