Premier Wen addresses US-China Business Council

cctv.com 12-10-2003 13:27

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao says his visit to the United States is a success. Addressing the US-China Business Council after his talks with US president George W. Bush, he noted that both sides wished to see closer cooperation. He also said he was pleased to see President Bush cautions against a Taiwan referendum vote.

Wen Jiabao first of all expressed his thanks to all who have contributed to the improvement of Sino-US relations over the past quarter of century. He said, although bilateral ties have experienced ups and downs, they keep moving forward no matter what obstacles lie in the way. A brief examination of the China-US exchanges can lead to three conclusions that are crucial to the long-term development of the China-US relations.

First, both China and the US benefit from peaceful co-existence, suffer from conflicts and distrust. Wen recalled that the China-US trade volume was nearly zero when the two counties signed the Shanghai Communique 21 years ago. But now, the number has exceeded 100 billion US dollars, testifying the reciprocity brought by the normalization of bilateral relations.

Second, China and the US have the foundation to further their cooperation and seek common interests. The two countries are complementary in their trade exchanges. The technological and management merits possessed by American enterprises are being properly combined with China's cheap labor costs and huge market potential. The US has become China's second largest trade partner and one of its biggest investors. China's WTO membership and range of reforms undergoing will promise more opportunities for the world.

Thirdly, Sino-US cooperation is conducive to the stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world peace at large. The two countries have fruitful coordination in addressing the DPRK nuclear issue. In the fight against global terrorism, the two countries are also able to work closer together. To cope with the challenges the world faces in in the new century, both countries should realize their responsibilities towards mankind.

Wen Jiabao said: "China is the biggest developing country and the US is the biggest developed country. China and the US should be friends, instead of adversaries."

The Chinese premier also touched upon the Taiwan issue. He said President Bush has sent a very clear signal to the world, warning any moves to change the status quo of the cross-Straight relations. He said peaceful reunification and "one China, two systems" policy remain China's guiding principles to address the issue. He says the cross-Straight trade has been prosperous in recent years. No one hopes to see a retreat because of irrational moves by the Taiwan authorities.

Editor:Su  Source:CCTV.com