Premier Wen Jiabao Tuesday warned the Taiwan authorities not to use democracy as a cover to seek separatism, an act he described as "intolerable".

He gave the warning on two occasions -- at a meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and talking to groups of overseas Chinese.

Wen said that Beijing's refusal to renounce the use of force does not target the Taiwan people, only those who seek to separate Taiwan from the motherland. "As long as there is still a glimmer of hope, the Chinese Government will not give up its efforts for a peaceful settlement."

"No interest is higher than that of national reunification," Wen told representatives of overseas Chinese.

Wen arrived in New York Tuesday on a four-day official visit to the US. He will take the opportunity to meet leaders of business circles and highlight the desire for closer economic and trade partnerships.

He rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange and delivered a keynote speech to business leaders Tuesday. He also toured the site where the World Trade Centre was demolished in the September 11 terror attacks and laid a wreath.

Wen outlined China's economic policy towards the US in his speech entitled "Work Together to Open a New Chapter in Sino-US Trade and Economic Co-operation," at a luncheon hosted by the American Bankers Association.

He said the thriving bilateral economic partnership has resulted from the "high degree of complementarity of the two economies".

He encouraged business leaders and politicians to pay attention to problems between the two countries.

"When approaching problems in China-US trade, we need to take a strategic perspective of vision and foresight," said Wen.

Problems such as the US trade deficit with China, the renminbi exchange rate, and intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, concern many people in the US.

But they are also problems that come along with expanded trade, and can be ironed out gradually since common understanding is entirely possible, Wen said.

"They should not, and will not, stand in the way of the larger interests of China-US trade. As whirlpools are sometimes found in a surging river, the flows of history can also be interrupted by some occasional setbacks," Wen added.

He said Beijing does not want an increase in the US trade deficit with China, but reducing Chinese exports to the US is not the answer.

Instead, it will seriously harm the interests of millions of US consumers and US firms operating in China.

"A more realistic solution is for the US to expand its exports to China," said Wen.

He also said that China would substantially increase imports of farm products and machinery from the US, and place more orders for American commodities.

"At the same time, we hope the US will recognize China's market economy status, and lift its export restrictions on high-tech products," Wen said.

Wen said China's development relies mainly on domestic demand and does not seek a long-standing trade surplus.

He then quoted a famous US saying to encourage business leaders to promote bilateral economic and trade ties: "The golden age is before us, not behind us."

(China Daily HK Edition December 9, 2003)