Premier Wen: China not to compromise on sovereignty, territorial integrity

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell in Beijing on October 25 that China will not compromise on issues concerning national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"China hopes the United States will keep its commitments, observe the three Sino-US joint communiques and do more to promote the stability of the Taiwan Straits," Wen said.

"Nobody in the world hopes to resolve the Taiwan issue peacefully more than we do," the premier said. "We will show the greatest sincerity and make the utmost efforts to seek a peaceful reunification, but absolutely will not allow the separation of Taiwan from the motherland."

Wen added that China and the United States have made progress on cooperation in many fields, which benefits the peoples of the two countries and plays a positive role in safeguarding world peace and stability.

The development of Sino-US relations shows that harmony benefits both nations, just as fighting hurts both too, Wen said.

As long as the two countries handle bilateral relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, he said, Sino-US relations will develop smoothly, and the interests of both countries will be safeguarded.

Wen gave favorable comments about the economic and trade relations between China and the United States, reaffirming that China will observe its commitments to the World Trade Organization and protect intellectual property rights, and hoping that the United States looses its export restriction to China.

Powell quoted US President George Bush as saying that bilateral effective cooperation has greatly pushed forward the relationship between the United States and China.

The United States is fully aware of the importance of the Taiwan issue to China, and the US government's commitments to the one-China policy will not change. The United States will continue to observe the three joint communiques and oppose Taiwan independence, Powell said.

Wen and Powell also exchanged views on anti-terrorism, the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Iraq issue.

Source: Xinhua