President Hu Jintao urged the United States to honor its commitments on the Taiwan issue and not send wrong signals to the Taiwan authority to avoid damage to the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. 

Hu made the remarks while meeting with US National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in Beijing Friday morning.

The Taiwan issue is closely related to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hu said. Proper handling of the Taiwan issue is key to the sound and stable development of Sino-US ties.

China will adhere to the principles of peaceful reunification and “one country, two systems” with regard to Taiwan, and is willing to make utmost efforts with greatest sincerity to resolve the issue peacefully.

But China will not tolerate Taiwan independence nor allow anyone to split Taiwan from China, he stressed.

“It is the common aspiration and strong determination of the 1.3 billion Chinese people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the president said.

US President George W. Bush has reiterated that the United States is adhering to the one-China policy and the three Sino-US joint communiqués, and opposes Taiwan independence, he said.

China hopes the US will translate these commitments into concrete action to avoid damage to cross-straits peace and stability.

In reviewing the progress made in Sino-US ties in recent years, Hu said, that the importance of the ties and the common interests shared by the two countries had increased amid great changes in the international situation.

Sino-US relations face new opportunities as well as new challenges, he added.

In line with mutual respect, equality and seeking common ground while leaving differences aside, the Chinese government will work with the US to enhance dialogue, properly handle differences and concerns, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation for the steady development of Sino-US relations, Hu said.

Rice told Hu that the US-China ties were developing in a positive way and with unprecedented depth.

China is changing greatly and a strong and confident China is in the interest of the United States, she said. The US is willing to strengthen its relations with China, expand economic and trade cooperation and maintain dialogue on issues where the two nations have differing views.

President Bush understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue and he will honor his commitments, rendering no support for Taiwan independence, she said.

Rice arrived in the Chinese capital Thursday as guest of Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

During her 24-hour stay in Beijing, Rice conferred with Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Li Zhaoxing.

China is the second leg of Rice’s Asian tour. In Tokyo, she held talks with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi. She leaves Beijing for Seoul, where she will confer with South Korean leaders.

Rice visited China in February 2002 when she accompanied Bush on a working visit.

(Xinhua News Agency July 9, 2004)