Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush had a telephone conversation Saturday evening on Iraq and Taiwan issues, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Bush briefed Hu on the draft resolution on the Iraq issue the United States submitted to the United Nations Security Council recently, and hoped the US side would continue cooperation with China on this issue.

Bush said he understood China's concern over the Taiwan issue, and strongly reiterated that the United States would adhere to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiques and oppose "Taiwan independence."

Hu said the correct approach to a proper solution of the Iraq issue was to have Iraq resume the exercise of its sovereignty in an all-round way, and to launch democratic and fair elections as early as possible for the establishment of a highly-representative new Iraqi government, with the United Nations playing an important role in this process.

The Chinese side supports the Security Council to adopt a new resolution, and hopes that all parties concerned would take a positive, pragmatic and responsible attitude to promote the consultation process so as to reach a consensus as soon as possible, he said.

As to the Taiwan issue, Hu stressed that the separatist activities of the "Taiwan independence" elements remain the biggest threat to peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

"We hope that the United States would observe its commitment to adhere to the one-China policy, follow the three Sino-US joint communiques and oppose 'Taiwan independence,' and would not send wrong signals to the Taiwan authorities," Hu said.

The two presidents agreed that the two countries would make joint efforts to push forward their constructive and cooperative relationship.

(Xinhua News Agency May 30, 2004)