Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said he would make further efforts to promote Sino-US ties, when meeting Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji in Beijing on Sunday.
Zhu extended a warm welcome to Kissinger, who is in China to attend commemorative ceremonies marking the 30th anniversary of the issuing of the Sino-US Shanghai Communique.
The Chinese premier said he highly valued Kissinger's efforts to pushing forward Sino-US relations.
Zhu said that China and the United States share common interests and a healthy and stable relationship between the two countries will benefit world peace and development.
Zhu reiterated the Chinese government's stand on the Taiwan issue, hoping the US government would abide by the three Sino-U. S. joint communiques.
The two countries can smoothly develop their bilateral relations only if the Taiwan issue is properly handled, Zhu said.
Zhu also briefed Kissinger on China's economic development.
Kissinger said that he was glad to see the progress made by the two countries on their relationship in the past three decades.
He also praised the great achievements made by the Chinese people in opening-up and economic reform.
Kissinger's visit is at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2002)
