The common interests between China and the United States is not decreasing, but increasing; the importance of the Sino-US relations is not weakening, but rising; the prospect of Sino-US cooperation is not diminishing, but expanding, stresses Yang Jiechi, Chinese Ambassador to the United States at a National Day reception held by the Chinese Embassy Sept 28 in Washington.

In his address Yang said that this year is the 25th anniversaries of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US. The two countries maintain good development this year; the high-level exchange between China and the US is frequent, and close negotiation and cooperation is maintained in important international and regional issues such as anti-terrorism. The cooperation and exchange in economics, trade, and culture have kept on progressing. The trade volume between China and the US has exceeded US$100 bln from Jan to Aug this year. In the past three years, US export to the world grew only by 9 percent, while its export to China rose by 76 percent.

Yang said the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive issue in the Sino-US relations because it is related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China hopes the US will keep its promise of adhering to the "one China" policy. Yang says, "we shall adhere to basic principles of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems", and push the two sides across the Taiwan Straits towards peaceful reunification with utmost efforts and sincerity. We firmly oppose "Taiwan Independent" attempts of any form and will never tolerate "Taiwan Independence".

The Chinese government attaches great importance to Sino-US relations. The relations will develop healthily and steadily provided that the two countries observe the fundamental principles in international relations and the three Sino-US joint communiqu��s, adhere to principle of mutual respect, treat each other equally, settle deputes properly. China is willing to work with US together to expand consensus, seek common points while preserving differences, get rid of disturbance, strengthen cooperation, to make new progress in the Sino-US constructive partnership.

Yang expressed appreciation to Chinese living in the US and students studying there for their contribution to construction of the motherland and the great cause of reunification, their efforts to promote mutual understanding and deepen friendly cooperation between the people in China and the US.

By People's Daily Online