President Hu Jintao said China will continue to work towards peaceful reunification with Taiwan, but will never tolerate "Taiwan independence."

Hu was speaking at a meeting with overseas Chinese and Chinese diplomats in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he is paying a state visit.

He added China will stick to the principle of "one country, two systems" in solving the Taiwan question.

Hu is now in Sao Paulo, Brazil's biggest city, on his five-day visit to the Latin American country.

Hu arrived last Thursday and met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Friday. The countries signed a range of accords, in which Brazil recognized China's status as a market economy and both sides vowed to strengthen cooperation in their fight against organized crime.

Hu also made a speech to Brazil's National Congress, and he told legislators that China hopes to usher in a new era of trusted friendship with Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Both sides will work to ensure bilateral trade expands by 150 percent to cross the US$100 billion threshold by 2010, and for mutual investment to have doubled by then.

To promote friendship and better understanding between the peoples of China and Latin America, Hu proposed launching cultural centers to encourage tourism, improve mass media and student exchanges and organize cross-cultural youth festivals.

Before Hu delivered his speech, President of the National Congress and Senate Jos Sarney, and President of the Chamber of Deputies Joao Paulo Cunha both said Brazil supports China's stance on Taiwan.

Hu also met Nelson Jobim, president of the Federal Supreme Court, on Friday afternoon.

(China Daily, CRI.com November 15, 2004)