 |
Chinese President Hu Jintao meets with visiting
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Beijing March 20, 2005.
(newsphoto)
|
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a piano
prodigy , may find her
China tour like playing a complex piece of music, but if done properly the
result will be harmonious.
Talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday made a
good start.
Opinions on various topics, including the Taiwan question, Sino-US
trade disputes, intellectual property rights protection, Korean Peninsula
nuclear stand-off discussions and the World Trade Organization's Doha
Round of market-opening talks, were exchanged frankly.
Lingering in the background is the approval by
China's top legislature of the Anti-Secession Law which opposes "Taiwan
independence secessionists
."
In yesterday's separate meetings with Rice, both Hu and Wen stressed
that the Anti-Secession Law aims to curb "Taiwan independence forces" and
the law is conducive to stability and the development of relations between
Taiwan and the mainland, and will also help maintain peace and development
in the Asia-Pacific region.
Both leaders said the "secessionist activities" of the "Taiwan
independence forces" have posed the biggest threat to peace and stability
across the Straits, expressing their hope that the US will understand,
respect and support China's legislative action.
Hu told the visiting secretary of state he hoped the United States will
"see clearly the nature and harm of 'Taiwan independence secessionist
forces' and their activities."
Rice replied yesterday that it is in the US
interest to maintain tranquillity
across the Taiwan Straits and solve the Taiwan question
peacefully, and that the United States will make efforts to that end.
Rice said the US Government's position on pursuing the one-China policy
and abiding by the three US-China joint communiques will not change,
according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman.
During her meeting with Hu, Rice said the US Government attaches great
importance to developing US-China constructive and co-operative ties, and
that people around the world are watching the "remarkable transformation"
that is going on in China.
She said the United States is ready to join hands with China in
exploring new fields for co-operation.
(China Daily) |