China hopes the United States will earnestly keep its solemn commitment to the Chinese side on the Taiwan issue, which is the most important and sensitive issue in the Sino-US relations, senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said in Beijing Thursday.

During his meeting with a delegation from the American Foreign Policy Council in the Great Hall of the People Thursday afternoon, Jia reiterated China's principled stance on the Taiwan issue. The US delegation is headed by Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Jia is a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Jia said the process of the development of bilateral relations had fully proved that maintaining healthy and stable expansion of Sino-US relationship is in the fundamental interests of both countries. It is conducive to the peace, stability and development of the world.

Jia said as long as both sides proceed from a strategic height and long-term view to perceive and develop their constructive relationship of cooperation, strengthen communication, enhance understanding, expand common view, deepen cooperation, properly deal with each other's concerns and differences and adhere to the principles of the three Sino-US joint communiques, the Sino-US relations will continue to make further progress.

Gingrich called US-China relations as one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. he said that the two countries see their common interests growing. He said through this visit, he had obtained a further insight of China's serious concern over the Taiwan issue. The two countries should further strengthen exchanges and cooperation and handle the Taiwan issue in proper way so as to ensure stableness of the development of bilateral relations, Gingrich said.

Gingrich and his entourage arrived in Beijing on Tuesday for an 8-day visit to China. The American Foreign Policy Council is a prominent think tank in the United States, focusing on study and foreign exchanges on national security policies. The organization has sent a number of delegations to China since 1994.

Source: Xinhua