Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao met with visiting US President George W. Bush Friday morning at Tsinghua University, and made an openning speech followed by Bush addressing the students and faculty members of Tsinghua University.
Speaking before Bush's address at Tsinghua University, Hu said that on Thursday Chinese President Jiang and visiting US President Bush had an in-depth exchange of views on Sino-US relations and the international situation, reached many common understandings and achieved positive results. The meeting between the two presidents will surely have a far-reaching impact on further development of Sino-US constructive relations of cooperation.
Hu emphasized that Bush's visit coincides with the 30th anniversary of President Richard Nixon's visit to China and the issuing of the China-US Shanghai Communique. Thirty years are just a moment in human history, but the great changes that have occurred during the period in the two countries' relations will go down in history. As a Tsinghua graduate, Hu said he is happy to be back to his Alma Mater and join the teachers and students of Tsinghua in welcoming President Bush.
In his speech, Hu expressed that China and the United States are both great countries, and the two peoples are both great peoples. The development of international situation has repeatedly demonstrated that China and the United States bear important responsibilities and have extensive common interests in safeguarding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, promoting regional and global economic growth and prosperity, fighting against terrorism and other cross-border crimes, and addressing environmental deterioration and other global problems.
Hu stressed that Sino-US friendship conforms to the wish of the people of the two countries and the trend of the times. As long as the two sides respect each other, treat each other as equals, seek common ground while reserving differences, Sino-US relations will be able to develop in a healthy and steady way.
On the future Sino-US relationship, Hu Jintao puts more hope on young people of the two countries. He said that young people in both China and the United States should increase exchanges and enhance friendship. By looking them as the hope of the country, the future of the world and the fresh force pushing forward Sino-US friendship, Hu expressed his good wishes, "I hope young people in the two countries will increase exchanges, enhance friendship, learn from each other, and work together to promote peace, progress and development of the world."
(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2002)
