Visiting US Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte on Thursday reiterated the one-China policy of his government and expressed optimism for the cross-Straits relations in the new year.

Negroponte made the remarks during a meeting in Beijing with Wang Yi, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

Negroponte positively evaluated the recent progress in the cross-Straits relations and expressed appreciation for the efforts the mainland has made for that.

Wang said practice had proven that adherence to the one-China stance and opposition to "Taiwan independence" separatist activities were conducive to the betterment of cross-Straits ties and regional peace and conformed to the interests of the international community including those of the United States.

Negroponte said the one-China principle was a consistent policy held by both parties of his country, and he believed the new U.S. administration would adhere to it too.

Wang also briefed the U.S. guest on the main points of the speech President Hu Jintao delivered on Dec. 31 in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the mainland's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan".

He said the proposals Hu made for promotion of the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations pointed a clear direction for the development of the ties in the future.

They formed the basic framework and substantial content of the peaceful development of the relations, and demonstrated the mainland's sincerity and goodwill by giving as much as possible consideration to the reasonable aspirations of the Taiwan compatriots, Wang said.

Negroponte said the U.S. side also valued the speech and he believed the cross-Straits relations would have an even better beginning in the new year.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2009)