Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday met in Washington separately with US Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney, Ted Stevens, pro tempore president of the US Senate, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft.  

In his meeting with Cheney, Wen said Sino-US relations are the most important bilateral ties in the world.

Under the new circumstances, the scope for bilateral cooperation is becoming wider rather than narrower, and the foundation for the development of bilateral relations is being strengthened rather than weakened, Wen said. The two countries now face important opportunities for development of bilateral ties, he added.

The Chinese Premier said the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive one in Sino-US relations because it concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the stability and development of Sino-US relations.

He expressed the hope that the US government adheres to its one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US Joint Communiques and oppose Taiwan independence.

Cheney said the United States attaches importance to promoting its relations with China, and the two countries share many common interests in international affairs.

It is very important for the United States and China to increase contacts, hold candid dialogues and clear up misunderstandings, Cheney said. While bilateral economic and trade links are solid, the two countries also need good political ties between them, he added.

During his meeting with Stevens, Wen thanked friends in the US Senate for their attention to and support for the development of Sino-US relations over the years and for their unremitting efforts to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Wen hoped that the legislative bodies of China and the United States would carry out vigorous exchanges between them so as to deepen mutual understanding and increase cooperation.

Stevens said Premier Wen's current visit to the United States is of great importance to the future development of bilateral relations. China is playing a more and more important role in the world, and the two countries should further strengthen their cooperation and join hands to solve the problems faced by them, he added.

When meeting US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Wen briefed him about the reform of China's financial system and China's currency exchange rate mechanism.

China and the United States share a wide range of common interests in the financial field, Wen said. China is ready to strengthen dialogues and cooperation with the United States and work together to promote steady economic growth in both countries and the world as well, he said.

The problems which crop up in bilateral economic and trade relations should be properly handled in order to bring about the healthy development of the economic and trade ties for the benefit of the two peoples, he said.

Greenspan spoke highly of the steady and rapid development of the Chinese economy, saying the expanding Chinese market is exerting a positive influence on the US economy and the global economy. He wished success for China's continued reform of its financial system and other sectors.

Premier Wen also met with Brent Scowcroft, former US national security adviser. Wen praised him for his efforts to promote the healthy development of Sino-US relations over the years. He also briefed Scowcroft about the current status of Sino-US relations.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2003)