FM: Taiwan question to head Premier's US visit ( 2003-11-26 08:44) (China Daily)
As the most important and sensitive issue in the Sino-US relationship, the
Taiwan question will be high on the agenda between Premier Wen Jiabao and US
leaders during his upcoming visit to the United States, according to the Foreign
Ministry.
Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao. [newsphoto.com.cn/file]
Wen
will discuss bilateral relations and other major international issues of concern
when meeting US President George W. Bush and other US leaders, ministry
spokesman Liu Jianchao said.
He will also attend several functions in Washington DC, New York and Boston
during his December 7-10 stay.
China welcomes and appreciates Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha's
speech on its policy regarding China, Liu said yesterday when asked by China
Daily to respond to Sinha's weekend address.
Sinha said in his speech that India and China are seeking improved relations
with each other without pre-conditions.
Liu said China is willing to further improve its long-term constructive
co-operative partnership with India, based on the Five Principles of Peaceful
Co-existence.
A very important component of Chinese diplomacy, the promotion of friendship
with India not only complies with the interests of the two nations and their
peoples, but also benefits regional peace and stability.
Liu recalled Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's visit to China in
June, saying it signified that Sino-Indian relations had entered a new era.
China is satisfied with the positive growing momentum of bilateral ties and
is willing to explore co-operative relations with India across the board.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's
Political Consultative Conference, is in India at the moment.
China's steady development constitutes no threat to any country and will
benefit regional stability and prosperity, Xinhua quoted Jia as saying during a
Monday meeting with Sinha.
The ministry spokesman also said consultations leading up to the second round
of six-party talks covering the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula have so
far been beneficial.
China hopes that through the efforts of all parties, they can be held at an
early date and progress can be made, he said.
Also, Liu revealed that Vice-Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the Director of the
Asian Affairs Department of the Foreign Ministry, Fu Ying, met the visiting
Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's No 1 Asian Department, Yevgeny
Afanasyev, on November 17.
Liu said China and Russia discussed preparations for the six-party
talks.