Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Sunday. They expressed their mutual desire to enhance China-US ties and discussed Taiwan and economic affairs.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (R) meets with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Beijing, March 20, 2005

Wen recalled his "successful" visit to the United States in December, 2003, during which US President George W. Bush made clear that the United States would adhere to the one-China policy and oppose "Taiwan independence."

Wen said, "Your arrival will help plant new seeds for China-US friendship."

"China and the United States maintain a generally good relationship and have forged fruitful cooperation in various fields," Wen said, adding that the Sino-US ties could be furthered in President Bush's second term given that the two sides will handle the relationship from a "strategic" and "long-term" perspective.

"The development of Sino-US relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and is conducive to world peace and development," Wen said.

He said the Anti-Secession Law, adopted by China's top legislature on March 14, is "aimed at curbing 'Taiwan independence' forces and will be conducive to the stability and development of cross-Straits relations and to the peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

"The secessionist activities of the Taiwan independence forces have posed the biggest threat to the peace and stability across the Strait," Wen said. "We hope the United States will understand, respect and support China's legislative action."

Wen also said economic and trade cooperation is an important part of the China-US relations and the two sides should "further improve current bilateral coordination mechanisms based on principles of equality, mutual benefit and development."

China and the United States, he said, should "take each other's concerns into consideration and handle well disputes and conflicts in trade cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win situation."

Rice said she made this China tour soon after she became US Secretary of State with the hope to promote a "very strong relationship" between the United States and China.

"It is good for the world if we continue to have a constructive and good relationship between the United States and China." said Rice.

She said the United States hopes to continue to consult with China, and that "Such consultations are helpful for the Asian-Pacific region and the world at large."

Rice said the United States will adhere to the one-China policy, abide by the three US-China communiques and hopes "the Taiwan question" will be solved peacefully.

The United States hopes to see a confident and prosperous China and will deal with the two countries' differences in a "constructive" manner with "mutual respect," she said.

Wen briefed Rice on China's economic and social situation, foreign exchange policy and efforts in protecting intellectual property rights. Rice said China's economic growth offered the world a new market, opportunity and vigor.

The two also exchanged views on the Doha Development Agenda of the World Trade Organization.

Rice visited China in 2002 and 2004 as the US national security adviser.

China is the last stop on Rice's Asian tour, which has already taken her to India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Analysts believe China-US ties, "the Taiwan question" and the resumption of six-party talks on the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue are among the priorities of her visit.