Chinese President Hu Jintao yesterday meets with his US counterpart George W. Bush on the sidelines of the economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum held in Sydney. - Xinhua 

Chinese President Hu Jintao said yesterday that numerous facts have proved China and the United States are each other's stakeholders and constructive cooperators.

Hu made the remarks in a meeting with his US counterpart George W. Bush on the sidelines of the economic leaders' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum held in the coastal city of Australia.

Hu spoke highly of the progress in Sino-US relations. "The two countries have maintained frequent high-level communications and successfully held strategic economic dialogue and strategic dialogue, effective pushing forward concrete cooperation in all fields," he said.

China and the United States have also maintained good communications and coordination on important international and regional issues, the Chinese leader added.

Hu pointed out the world is now marked by continuously changing situations of a profound and complicated nature. "A steady growth of China-US relations is not only in the fundamental interests of both countries, but also conducive to world peace and development," he said.

China is ready to join hands with the United States to ensure the steady and healthy growth of the constructive and cooperative ties between the two countries.

For his part, Bush said relations between the two countries, now in a good shape, are of vital importance to each other.

Both the United States and China are countries of significant influence in the world, so the two can tackle many problems given a strengthened cooperation, he said.

On the Taiwan issue, Hu stressed that this and next year will be "a highly dangerous period" of cross-strait situation.

Regardless of warnings from different sides, the Taiwan authorities flagrantly renewed separatist acts, such as tabling the proposal of "referendum on UN membership" and "joining the UN under the name of Taiwan."

"We must issue harsher warnings to the Taiwan authorities that any separatist attempt in any form seeking 'Taiwan independence' will go in vain," Hu said.

Bush said the United States firmly adheres to the one-China policy, observes the three US-China joint communiques and opposes any unilateral act to change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.

The US side fully understands China's concerns on the issue, he said.

On Taiwan's proposal of "referendum on UN membership," Bush said US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte has promptly and clearly stated the US government's opposition to the move by the Taiwan authorities.

The US side will continue to pay attention to the issue and is willing to maintain close communications with China concerning it, he added.

On bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Hu said the cooperation has shown strong developing momentum with rapidly climbing bilateral trade volume. China remains the most rapidly growing export market for the United States, he said.

"It is natural that some problems occurred amid a rapidly developing process," he said, calling on both sides to endeavor to address these problems with constructive attitudes.

Hu said the Chinese government attaches great importance to food safety and product quality. He introduced a series of measures taken by the Chinese government and tangible achievements in this regard.

Bush said the US side values its economic ties with China, and trade with China brings benefit to the United States. He acknowledged that certain problems are unavoidable for such strong and extensive economic ties.

The US side appreciates the active measures adopted by the Chinese government to guarantee food safety and product quality, he said, adding that the US side opposes protectionist measures and believes no barrier should be set up for US-China trade.

The two leaders held in-depth exchanges of views on the WTO's Doha round talks, climate change, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Iran's nuclear issue and Sudan's Darfur issue.

They agreed to maintain consultation on these issues and make concerted efforts with relevant sides to properly resolve these problems.

Hu and Bush are in Sydney, Australia to attend APEC's annual economic leaders' meeting due on Sept 8-9.