Yang said the Chinese government and people welcome President Bush to attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games and wished U.S. players successful performance.

Secretary Rice said President Bush is looking forward to visiting China and attending the Beijing Olympic Games. She reiterated the U.S. support for a successful holding of the Games.

As to the Taiwan issue, Yang reaffirmed the Chinese government's principled position, stressing that it is in the interests of all sides to safeguard and promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Rice responded that there is no change of U.S. positions on the Taiwan issue, saying that the U.S. side supports the constructive development between the two sides across the Taiwan Straits and will handle related issues with caution.

Yang and Rice also exchanges views on the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the nuclear issue of Iran and the Doha round trade talks and agreed to maintain close communications and coordination on these issues.

(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2008)