Chinese and US lawmakers vowed in Guilin, Guangxi Province Wednesday to continue using the parliamentary exchange mechanism to develop bilateral relations.

 

The lawmakers, led by Sheng Huaren, vice chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, US Senate President Pro Tempore Ted Stevens, and Senator Daniel K. Inouye, co-chair of the Senate's US-China Interparliamentary Group, held their third formal working session since the exchange mechanism was set up two years ago.

 

The two sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including Sino-US relations, the Taiwan question, parliamentary exchanges, China's peaceful development, trade, energy, the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and other regional and international issues of common concern, and reached consensus on many issues.

 

The two sides hailed the progress in Sino-US relations in recent years, and emphasized that fully implementing the consensus reached by Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart, George W. Bush, is of vital importance in maintaining and developing the constructive relationship between the two countries in the 21st century.

 

Sheng, also chairman of the NPC Sino-US parliamentary group, stressed that the Taiwan question is the most important and most sensitive issue in China-US relations. He expressed the hope that the US senators would play a positive and constructive role on the issue.

 

The US lawmakers expressed their support for the one-China policy, pledging to oppose "Taiwan independence." They said they appreciate the actions taken by the Chinese side to stabilize the situation and improve relations across the Taiwan Straits.

 

Sheng also briefed the US senators about China's economic and social development, stressing that China is fully committed to the path of peaceful development, and that a stable and developing China is an opportunity and not a threat to the development of other countries. The US senators expressed their admiration for China's remarkable economic achievements during the opening-up and reform process.

 

Sheng and Stevens reviewed and affirmed the positive achievements of the parliamentary conference mechanism since it was established over two years ago, and agreed that parliamentary exchanges are an important part of relations between the two countries, and that a regular conference mechanism provides a useful platform for the two sides to enhance understanding, deepen trust, and expand consensus.

 

The two sides decide to make joint efforts to further improve the mechanism.

 

The two sides also discussed issues such as the exchange rate of the Chinese currency, the protection of the environment and natural resources, regional security, military defense and the prevention of bird flu.

 

The US senate delegation arrived in China on Monday. President Hu and top legislator Wu Bangguo will meet and hold talks with the delegation in Beijing on Friday and Saturday, covering bilateral issues and other regional and international issues of common concern.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2006)