The Chinese legislature hopes to further increase communication
with its US counterpart, in a bid to promote China-US ties, said
top legislator Wu Bangguo in Beijing Tuesday.
"The two sides should make more communication and frankly
exchange their views in an effort to push forward the healthy and
stable development of bilateral ties," Wu, chairman of the Standing
Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), told
Mark Kirk and Rick Larsen, co-chairmen of the US-China Working
Group under the US House of Representatives.
Wu spoke highly of the exchange mechanism between the Chinese
and US legislatures, saying that it made an important contribution
to the healthy and stable development of China-US relations.
Wu also expressed appreciation for the US-China Working Group's
positive role in increasing mutual understanding between the two
legislatures and the two countries.
"The China-US relations currently witness a sound momentum of
stable development as a whole," Wu said, noting that the two sides
enjoy close high-level visits, frequent exchanges in such spheres
as politics, foreign affairs, economy, trade, science, education,
culture and health, and close coordination in international and
regional issues concerning anti-terrorism, anti-proliferation, the
Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, UN reform and the Iranian nuclear
issue.
Wu said although differences still remain between China and the
US due to different history, culture and state situations, facts
have proved that the two nations enjoy more common interests than
differences.
As long as the two sides increase dialogue, exchanges and
cooperation, China-US relations will keep moving forward in a
stable and healthy way, Wu noted.
As to the Taiwan issue, Wu said it is in the common interest of
both China and the US to oppose and check the secessionist
activities of the groups that advocate Taiwan's de jure
independence and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan
Straits.
The US side has reiterated, on many occasions, that it will
stick to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint
communiqués, oppose "Taiwan Independence," and reject any attempt
of the Taiwan authorities aimed at unilaterally changing the status
quo across the Straits, Wu said, noting that the Chinese side
appreciates this.
Kirk and Larsen said the US-China Working Group works for
increasing the US congressmen's understanding of China and
deepening mutual trust between the two sides, in a bid to push
forward the development of US-China relations.
The US-China Working Group will work with other US congressmen
to create a sound and positive atmosphere for President Hu Jintao
to make a successful visit to the US, according to the co-chairmen
of the group.
Sheng Huaren, vice chairman and secretary-general of China's NPC
Standing Committee, also met with the delegation later Tuesday.
The delegation is paying the visit to China at the invitation of
the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee. The two sides held working talks
on Tuesday.
(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2006)
