Bush: US supports 'one-China' policy (Reuters/chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2005-11-16 11:37
KYOTO, Japan - US President George W. Bush reiterated on Wednesday that
Washington supported a "one-China policy" and said that Beijing and Taipei
should settle their differences peacefully.
US President George
W. Bush gestures during a joint news conference with Japan's Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi at the Kyoto State Guest House November 16,
2005. [Reuters] | Bush is on a week-long,
four-nation Asian tour that will also take him to China, South Korea and
Mongolia.
He made the remarks at a joint news conference with his close ally, Prime
Minister Junichiro Koizumi, following talks with the Japanese leader.
He
said the one-China policy remains unchanged. "It is based on the three
communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act and our belief that there should be no
unilateral attempts to change the status quo by either side."
Bush said the US will continue to stress the need for a dialogue between the
Chinese mainland and Taiwan "that leads to a peaceful resolution of their
differences."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in her meeting
with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing in Busan, South Korea, also said that
the US will adhere to the "one-China" policy, stressing that the policy
will not change, according to a Xinhua report.
She said China, as a rising power, is playing an increasing important role in
the world affairs.
The US cherishes its relations with China, and hopes to maintain a high-level
contact with China. Rice said Bush is looking forward to his upcoming China
visit.
Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said recent China-US
relations have grown steadily, and that the two countries' mutually beneficial
cooperation in various fields are fruitful.
Li said properly handling the Taiwan issue is a key to ensuring a steady
growth of China-US ties.
He said China appreciates the United States' repeated reiteration that it
sticks to the "one China" policy, abides by the three China-US joint
communiques, and opposes "Taiwan independence."
Li said China hopes the United States will work together with China to oppose
and contain "Taiwan independence" and safeguard the peace of the Taiwan Strait
and the China-US relations which are of overall importance.
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