Visiting Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao stressed that China and
the United States should take measures to enhance the constructive
and cooperative relationship between the two countries.
Addressing an audience of some 400 celebrities and experts from all
walks of life at a dinner hosted in Washington Wednesday by the
National Committee on US-China Relations and other US friendship
groups, Hu said that during their two summits in Shanghai and
Beijing, President Jiang Zemin and President Bush reached important
agreement on developing a constructive and cooperative relationship
between China and the US.
"That reflected the strategic farsightedness of the two leaders and
clearly indicated the direction in which Sino-US relations would
move forward in the new century," he said, adding that the two
sides should implement that important agreement in good faith and
effectively promote a sound development of bilateral relations.
The Chinese vice-president highlighted four areas in which the two
countries should strengthen their constructive and cooperative
relationship.
He
said the two sides should step up their high-level strategic
dialogues as well as their exchanges at different levels and
between various agencies.
"Such dialogues and exchanges are playing an irreplaceable role in
enhancing mutual understanding and trust and developing
constructive and cooperative bilateral relations," he stated.
Exchanges and cooperation in all fields should be intensified, Hu
said, noting the Chinese and US economies are highly complementary,
thus promising a huge cooperation potential in commerce, energy,
environment, science, technology and other endeavors.
He
stated the two sides should address their differences on the basis
of mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving
differences, expressing the hope that the US side will strictly
honor its commitments to the Chinese side and play a constructive
role in China's peaceful reunification.
While expounding China's stand on such issues as anti-terrorism,
non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the situation
on the Korean Peninsula, He also proposed that the two sides should
increase dialogue and cooperation on major issues concerning world
peace and security.
In
his speech, Hu also briefed the audience on China's economic
situation and its reform and opening-up policy.
(Xinhua News
Agency May 3, 2002)