Jiang extended his welcome to Bush, father of President George W. Bush, and praised Bush's concern and support for the development of Sino-US relations.

Since President George W. Bush's swearing in, Sino-US relations as a whole had advanced, Jiang said.

During their two summits in October 2001 and February 2002, President Jiang and President Bush reached consensus on developing a constructive cooperative relationship between the two countries.

Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao has just wound up a successful visit to the United States, making efforts with the US side to implement the consensus.

Jiang said he was glad to see President Bush and his aides reiterating that the US government would abide by the "one China" policy and abide by the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiqués.

Meanwhile, the two countries made new progress in their cooperation concerning anti-terrorism as well as trade and economic relations, Jiang said. The two sides kept constant consultations on important international and regional issues of common concern.

After reviewing the history of Sino-US relations, Jiang said that although they had differences, China and the United States shared more extensive and important common interests.

He said that the two countries shouldered the same responsibility to work for world peace and welfare of humankind.

The common interests and responsibility were the basis for the two countries to enhance constructive cooperative relations, Jiang said.

Jiang stressed that the Taiwan issue remained the most important and sensitive core issue in the Sino-US relations.

Resolution of the Taiwan issue and China's peaceful reunification would benefit further development of Sino-US relations as well as peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific Region, Jiang said.

China would try its best to resolve the Taiwan issue by peaceful means through implementing the principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", Jiang said.

Provided that the Taiwan authorities accept the "one China" principle, Jiang reiterated, the two sides across the Taiwan Straits could resume negotiations and dialogue, which could cover any issue.

However, Jiang underlined, the Chinese people would never allow anyone going in for "Taiwan independence".

Bush said that the US people were continuing their fight against terrorism. President Bush and the US people were grateful to President Jiang and the Chinese people for their support and cooperation in the international fight against terrorism.

The US side agreed that President Bush's latest China tour in February and Vice-President Hu's US visit days ago were successful, Bush said.

In general, Bush said, US-Chinese relations had been developing smoothly.

The United States adhered to the "one China" policy and believed that a vigorous and advancing US-Chinese relationship was in US interests, Bush said.

Bush said that the two sides should continuously strengthen their bilateral relations.

Bush also outlined his views on the situation in the Middle East, US-Russian relations and the US economy.

Former US National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft, who attended Bush's meeting with Jiang, said that the United States and China were experiencing a key period for promoting closer and more solid bilateral relations.

In the past, when the two countries bettered their ties, some obstruction would occur, which did harm to the good development momentum and their efforts, Scowcroft said.

The two sides should seize the opportunity, eradicate any possible disturbance and constantly push forward bilateral relations, he said.

Bush and his party are here at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

(People's Daily May 8, 2002)