The Chinese legislature hopes to further increase communication with its US counterpart, in a bid to promote China-US ties, said top legislator Wu Bangguo in Beijing Tuesday.

 

"The two sides should make more communication and frankly exchange their views in an effort to push forward the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties," Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), told Mark Kirk and Rick Larsen, co-chairmen of the US-China Working Group under the US House of Representatives.

 

Wu spoke highly of the exchange mechanism between the Chinese and US legislatures, saying that it made an important contribution to the healthy and stable development of China-US relations.

 

Wu also expressed appreciation for the US-China Working Group's positive role in increasing mutual understanding between the two legislatures and the two countries.

 

"The China-US relations currently witness a sound momentum of stable development as a whole," Wu said, noting that the two sides enjoy close high-level visits, frequent exchanges in such spheres as politics, foreign affairs, economy, trade, science, education, culture and health, and close coordination in international and regional issues concerning anti-terrorism, anti-proliferation, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, UN reform and the Iranian nuclear issue.

 

Wu said although differences still remain between China and the US due to different history, culture and state situations, facts have proved that the two nations enjoy more common interests than differences.

 

As long as the two sides increase dialogue, exchanges and cooperation, China-US relations will keep moving forward in a stable and healthy way, Wu noted.

 

As to the Taiwan issue, Wu said it is in the common interest of both China and the US to oppose and check the secessionist activities of the groups that advocate Taiwan's de jure independence and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

 

The US side has reiterated, on many occasions, that it will stick to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiqués, oppose "Taiwan Independence," and reject any attempt of the Taiwan authorities aimed at unilaterally changing the status quo across the Straits, Wu said, noting that the Chinese side appreciates this.

 

Kirk and Larsen said the US-China Working Group works for increasing the US congressmen's understanding of China and deepening mutual trust between the two sides, in a bid to push forward the development of US-China relations.

 

The US-China Working Group will work with other US congressmen to create a sound and positive atmosphere for President Hu Jintao to make a successful visit to the US, according to the co-chairmen of the group.

 

Sheng Huaren, vice chairman and secretary-general of China's NPC Standing Committee, also met with the delegation later Tuesday.

 

The delegation is paying the visit to China at the invitation of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee. The two sides held working talks on Tuesday.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)