Chinese President Hu Jintao is going to visit the United States shortly, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said Tuesday.

It is the first time that Hu visits the United States as Chinese president. Both sides are busy preparing for the visit, Li said at a press conference held on the sideline of the ongoing annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

Li stressed that the Taiwan issue is the "biggest" factor affecting Sino-US relations, expressing the hope that the US side sticks to the one-China policy, observes the three Sino-US joint communiques, has a clear understanding of the dangerous nature of "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces and activities, and takes concrete measures to oppose such attempts.

The minister called on the US side not to send false signals to "Taiwan independence" secessionists and work together with China to safeguard the peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits region and the overall interests in Sino-US relations.

"We are ready to work with the US side to strengthen mutual understanding, expand common ground, deepen mutual trust, promote cooperation, and properly settle our differences with a view of promoting the sound development of bilateral relations," Li said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2006)