Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, met in Beijing Tuesday with Nakasone Yasuhiro, chairman of the 12th annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), and the delegates from Colombia, Malaysia, Indonesia and Russia.  

Wu expressed gratitude for the efforts Yasuhiro has made to promote Sino-Japanese friendship and the APPF. Wu said that the APPF has become an important mechanism of the region, and the NPC is ready to work with the other member states to push forward the development of the APPF.

On Sino-Japanese relations, Wu said that the personnel exchanges and trade cooperation between China and Japan are at their best point in history, and the two countries should value this, and follow the principles of "learning from history and facing the future", and deal with the Sino-Japanese relationship from the strategic height.

Yasuhiro said Japanese politicians should learn from history and face the future, and push forward the healthy development of Sino-Japanese relations.

On parliamentary exchanges, Wu said they constitute an important component of the state relations, and play an irreplaceable role.

He said that the exchanges among parliaments would promote understanding, trust and friendship and the relations between all different parties so as to enhance the relations between the states.

Wu said that the NPC is ready to promote friendly relations with parliaments in the Asia-Pacific region, enhance the cooperation on legislative and supervision work and exchanges between young parliament members.

Wu said at the meeting that China attaches great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with the Asia-Pacific countries.

China persists in building a good-neighborly relationship and partnership with neighbors in the Asia-Pacific region and cementing friendly ties with them, Wu added.

Wu said China is committed to enhancing exchanges and cooperation in such fields as politics, economy and trade and science and technology, with a purpose to promote peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and world at large.

Wu extended his appreciation for these countries' support to the "one China" policy. He said the sensitive and important Taiwan issue is concerned with China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and is related to the fundamental interests of all Chinese people, including Taiwan people.

Wu said the "Taiwan independence" is in fact a challenge to peace and stability, and is causing tension.

China will work in utmost sincerity and make utmost efforts to strive for a peaceful reunification, not permitting anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any form, Wu said.

All guests expressed their appreciation and thankfulness to China for hosting the meeting. They said the meeting promoted mutual understanding, trust and friendship, and the friendly relations between the parliaments in the region, and will have a great impact on the regional peace, stability and prosperity.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2004)