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Hu praises nuclear talk deal
11/7/2005 9:24

President Hu Jintao said he welcomed the resumption of the stalled Korean nuclear talks and promised China would continue to play a constructive role in the negotiations.
Hu told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Beijing yesterday that China views a peaceful settlement of the nuclear standoff as a matter affecting all of northeast Asia.
Envoys representing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States agreed on Saturday to resume the six-party talks in late July. Rice, who arrived in Beijing on Saturday afternoon for a 20-hour visit, was upbeat about the agreement.
She told Hu the United States hopes all parties to the talks will push for substantial results.
In addition to China, the United States and North Korea, the other countries involved in the discussions are South Korea, Russia and Japan.
On other issues, Hu said the Chinese government is determined to expand relations across the Taiwan Strait and push for peaceful reunification of the country.
He expressed appreciation to US President George W. Bush and the US government for their repeated support of the one-China policy and opposition to Taiwan independence.
Hu called on Washington to fulfill its commitment with concrete actions by remaining vigilant against secessionist forces, by more explicitly supporting improvements in cross-strait relations and by promoting peace and stability in the area around the strait.
On Sino-US relations, Hu said ties are advancing in a constructive manner.
The two countries have made new progress in cooperative efforts on trade, anti-terrorism, law-enforcement and health, he said.
The president said China highly values its relationship with the United States and is ready to work with Washington to deepen trust and cooperation.
Rice said the relationship between the United States and China is proceeding with good momentum.
She noted that her current trip to China is her second as secretary of state in six months, which demonstrates the importance of the relationship between the two countries.
She also said Bush is anticipating a visit to the United States by Hu, during which the two leaders will exchange views on US-China relations and other major issues of common concern.
Beijing is the first leg of Rice's four-nation Asian tour. She left the Chinese capital yesterday afternoon for Thailand, and from there will go on to visit Japan and South Korea. Before her meeting with Hu, Rice held talks with Premier Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.
Wen said yesterday that Sino-US relations have achieved fruitful cooperation in a "wide range of fields," especially in the rapid expansion of trade and economic links.
He said trade and other economic cooperation between China and the United States have brought huge benefits not only to the people of both countries but also to the global economy.
Wen also expressed the hope that both countries would abide strictly by the regulations of the World Trade Organization.



 Xinhua news