International   

Bush, Hu pledge to strengthen relations

U.S. offers to hold dialogue with China

— Photo: AP

THE BIG THREE: Wearing traditional `ao dai' the Presidents of the U.S., Russia and China — George W. Bush (right), Vladimir Putin (centre) and Hu Jintao (left) — get ready for a group photo with leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sunday.

HANOI: Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, agreed here on Sunday to further strengthen bilateral relations and exchanged views on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and the Iranian nuclear issue.

The two Presidents held talks on the sidelines of the 14th Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, which began here on Saturday.

Mr. Hu said China and the United States, as stakeholders and constructive partners, should strengthen dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation on major issues concerning the world and settle their disputes amicably, so as to push forward bilateral relations. He said both sides should adhere to the correct path of developing bilateral ties and promote cooperation in an all-round way. He said the Taiwan question should be properly handled and pointed out that the Bush administration has reiterated its commitment to the "one-China" policy, the three Sino-U.S. communiques and made known its opposition to ``Taiwan independence.'' Agreeing with Mr. Hu on strengthening bilateral cooperation, Mr. Bush said the U.S. is ready to conduct strategic dialogues and exchanges at various levels with China.

He said the U.S. understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan question and its possible impact on the U.S.-China relations, and that the U.S. policy on this question remains unchanged.

Mr. Bush said both sides would settle their economic and trade disputes on the basis of mutual respect.

He said strengthening bilateral cooperation is conducive to world peace and prosperity, as well as the settlement of international and regional issues. During the meeting, Mr. Hu also called for settlement of the disputes over the nuclear activities of North Korea and Iran through dialogue.

— Xinhua

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Taliban must be defeated: Blair, Musharraf
Bush, Hu pledge to strengthen relations
Rajapaksa urged to rush relief to Vaharai
APEC backs curbs on N. Korea
Spy poison plot
Russia, U.S. sign WTO deal
Law targets Americans
Flap over "gay penguins"
Musharraf praised for improved ties with India

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu