Chinese President Hu Jintao told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that he hoped the United States would "see clearly the nature and harms of 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces and their activities."

Rice is on her first China trip since she took office in January as the guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

Hu said he hoped the United States "would honor the commitments that US President George W. Bush reiterated repeatedly on adhering to the one-China policy, observing the three Sino-US joint communiques and opposing 'Taiwan independence.'"

He also said he hoped the United States would "understand and support all the efforts made by the Chinese government and people to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize a peaceful reunification," and that it would not "send any wrong signal to 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces."

Hu said properly handling "the Taiwan question" remains key to the sound and steady development of Sino-US relations and the Anti-Secession Law passed by China's National People's Congress on March 14 aims to "promote the development of relations across the

Taiwan Strait, push forward a peaceful reunification, oppose and curb 'Taiwan independence' and safeguard peace and stability across the Strait."

Rice said it conforms with US interests to maintain tranquillity across the Taiwan Straits and solve the Taiwan question peacefully, and the United States will make efforts to that end.

She said the US government's position on pursuing the one-China policy and abiding by the three US-China joint communiques will not change.