On April 13, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Zhou Wenzhong had an interview with People's Daily Online reporter Li Xuejiang on the forthcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to the US and the evaluation of the current Sino-US relations.

Zhou said that at the invitation of US President George W. Bush, President Hu will visit the United States between April 18 and 21. This will be Hu's first visit to the US after he was elected the president of China. It will also be another major event in Sino-US relations following the meetings between the two heads of states in New York City and Beijing respectively last year. Hu's visit aims to expand consensus, deepen cooperation and comprehensively promote the development of Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations. In the past period of time, China and the US have held a series of active consultations and preparations for Hu's forthcoming visit. With the joint efforts of both sides, the visit is expected to be a successful one which will have a positive and far-reaching impact on strengthening the bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields and promoting Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative relations in the 21st Century.

Zhou pointed out that Sino-US relations is one of the world's most important bilateral relationships. As the largest developing country and the largest developed country, China and the US shoulder very important responsibilities for maintaining the peace and security of the world, especially the Asia-Pacific region. Of course, due to the differences in the social systems, levels of economic development and historical and cultural background, China and the US do have some disagreements and contradictions on some issues. But the two countries share comprehensive and important common interests with each other, and this is the primary point. China and the US should be able to develop a long-term, stable and constructive relation of cooperation. During the26 years after the two countries developed a formal diplomatic relations, China and the US have made remarkable progress in bilateral relations in many fields. Today, the world situation is undergoing profound changes. The people have got out of the clouds of the Cold War confrontation. Seeking peace, development, and cooperation has become an irresistible historical trend. The interests of all countries in the world are deeply interwoven. In this context, the common interests between China and the US has not been diminished but rather been increased; the basis for the cooperation between the two countries has not been weakened, but strengthened; the importance of the Sino-US relations has not been undermined, but rather highlighted.

Zhou said that the current Sino-US relations have maintained a good momentum of steady development. High-level communication and contacts increased and dialogues and exchanges at all levels and in various fields augmented. The two countries have made new progress in the exchanges and cooperation in economy, trade, anti-terrorism, law enforcement, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, combating infectious diseases, science and technology, and education. China and the US have effective dialogues and coordination on some international and regional issues such as the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, Iran nuclear development, Iraq's reconstruction, and the UN affairs. We hope that China and the US can have more close cooperation so as to further promote peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world.

With regard to the Sino-US economic and trade relations, Zhou Wenzhong said that Sino-US economic and trade cooperation have been mutually beneficial, which brought real benefits to the people of both countries. During the 27 years after the establishment of Sino-US diplomatic relations, the bilateral trade volume surged from the less than 2.5 billion US dollars in 1979 to the 211.6 billion US dollars in 2005, an increase of 80 times. China and the US have seen an increasing interdependence on each other. Sino-US trade and economic cooperation is playing a more important role in promoting economic development of both countries. China is America's third largest trading partner and fourth largest export market. The US is China's second largest trading partner and sixth largest import source. By choosing Chinese goods which have excellent quality but reasonable prices, US consumers can save more than 100 billion US dollars in annual expenditures. The healthy development of Sino-US economic and trade cooperation will bring to the people of the two countries more benefits. Of course, frictions inevitably arise during the rapid development of Sino-US economic and trade relations. The key point here is to deal with the disputes and disagreements basing on the principles of "equality, mutual benefit and development". Both countries should avoid politicizing the economic and trade issues and should make efforts to unfold win-win cooperation on the basis of mutually benefits. With the joint efforts of the two countries, the 17th session of the Sino-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) meetings which was held recently in Washington D.C. yielded positive results, which have very positive significance in resolving Sino-US trade friction and promoting the steady development of the Sino-US economic and trade relations.

Zhou emphasized that the Taiwan issue is concerning China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is the most important and most sensitive core issue in the China-US relations. Properly handling the Taiwan issue is crucial to ensure a stable development of Sino-US relations. The activities of the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces are the biggest threat to the stability of the Taiwan Strait and the security of Asia-Pacific region. Chinese government will show the greatest sincerity and make utmost efforts to strive for the prospect of a peaceful reunification of the motherland. But we are resolutely opposed to "Taiwan independence" and will never allow anyone to split Taiwan from China in any way. Opposing and containing "Taiwan independence" and safeguarding Taiwan Strait and the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region are in accordance with the common interests of both China and the US. We commend US President Bush and the US government for their repeatedly reiterating their adherence to the One China policy, their standing to the three Sino-US joint communiqu��s, and their opposing "Taiwan independence". We hope that the US should abide by its commitments to China, properly handle the Taiwan issue, and work with the Chinese government to maintain the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and stand up for the Sino-US common interests.����

Zhou added that Sino-US military ties are an important component part of the bilateral relations. With the joint efforts of both countries, Sino-US military relations have maintained a good momentum of development in recent years. The increasing exchanges between the two armies enhanced mutual understanding and trust. We are willing to work together with the US to continue promoting the steady development of the relations between the two armies.

The ambassador pointed out in conclusion that the fact has and will continue to prove that China's development is a peaceful, open, cooperative, and harmonious development. China's peaceful development will not pose any threat to the US or any other countries. On the contrary, it will only create new opportunities to the two countries and their peoples and the entire world. Sino-US relations will be more extensive in the new Century.

By People's Daily Online