China attaches great importance to Sino-US relations, and is willing to work with the US to strengthen dialogue, build understanding, expand common ground and carry out further cooperation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Zhu Bangzao made the remark in Beijing Thursday afternoon at a routine press conference, saying that the two sides should do more to safeguard bilateral relations so as to ensure the healthy and steady progress of such relations.
Noting that Sino-US relations have reached an important moment bridging the past and future, Zhu said that bilateral relations, although they have been undergone uneven developments in the past, are generally moving forward.
At the start of the new century, China and the US share extensive and significant common interests and tasks in matters concerning peace, development, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific and the world at large, he stressed.
He pointed out that a healthy and steady development of bilateral cooperative relations is in the common interest of the two countries and their people.
He said he is convinced that Sino-US relations can continue to develop only when the three Sino-US joint communiques are sincerely observed and the existing problems between the two sides, particularly the Taiwan issue, can be handled properly.
Zhu noted that the US has made serious commitments on the Taiwan issue, and it is recognized by most countries in the world that there is only one China, Taiwan is part of China, and the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China.
Past experience has shown that the Taiwan issue has always been the most important and sensitive key issue in Sino-US relations, and it directly affects the general situation of this relationship, voiced Zhu.
The US made clear its commitments on this issue to the Chinese, and the US government repeatedly stated these commitments, which are to adhere to the "one-China" policy and abide by the three Sino-US joint communiques and other commitments, added Zhu.
He said he hoped that the new US leaders and government can honor these commitments in a down-to-earth manner, handle Taiwan issue properly and support China's peaceful reunification.
(Xinhua 03/08/2001)
