US Vice President Dick Cheney said on June 9 that the US government attaches importance to its relations with China, as the development of bilateral ties benefits not only the two peoples, but also peace and stability in Asia and the whole world.

It is already a proven fact that it is very important for the two countries to consult each other and cooperate on issues of mutual concern, Cheney said at a meeting with Sheng Huaren, vice-chairman and secretary general of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), who is currently on a visit to the United States.

Highly appreciating the regular exchanges and cooperation between the two chambers of the US Congress and China's NPC, Cheney said frequent political dialogue and legislation exchanges between parliaments of the two countries play a significant role in developing bilateral relations, and he supports efforts to further consolidate the parliamentary conference mechanism.

Cheney recalled his visit to China in April last year, which he described as very successful.

The vice president, who accompanied former US President Gerald Ford during the latter's visit to China 30 years ago, said he was deeply impressed by China's new, tremendous changes.

Sheng said Cheney's visit to China last year has contributed significantly to the development of Sino-US relations.

The exchange of visits later this year by Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart, George W. Bush, is of great significance in further promoting the constructive and cooperative relationship between the two countries, he said.

Sheng elaborated the Chinese government's principled position on the Taiwan question, and briefed the US vice president on the latest situation across the Taiwan Strait.

He hailed the position which Bush reiterated during their talks, that is, the United States adheres to the one-China policy, observes the three Sino-US joint communiques, and opposes Taiwan independence.

He expressed the hope that the two sides will make concerted efforts to oppose and contain activities aimed at splitting Taiwan from China, and to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, as well as to promote the development of relations across the strait.

On the Taiwan question, Cheney said Bush has clearly expressed the US position on the issue, and that the US side encourages dialogue across the Taiwan Strait.

The two sides also exchanged views on Sino-US economic and trade relations, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the reform of the United Nations.

Also on Thursday, Sheng met with US House Speaker Dennis Hastert. The two sides exchanged views on exchanges and cooperation between China's NPC and the US House of Representatives, as well as other issues of common concern.

Sheng, who is also chairman of the NPC Sino-US parliamentary group, arrived in Washington on Monday afternoon, at the invitation of US Senate President pro tempore Ted Stevens, chairman of the US-China parliamentary group in the US Senate, and Senator Daniel K. Inouye, cochairman of the group.

Sheng and his entourage held working talks with their US counterparts on Wednesday, within the framework of the parliamentary exchange program which was initiated by China's NPC and the US Senate in 2003.

Source: Xinhua