President Hu Jintao told a US Senate delegation yesterday that China's stance on the Taiwan issue is unalterable and clear.

　　The US side should keep its promises on the Taiwan issue and should not send wrong signals to the Taiwan authorities, he added.

　　Hu made the remarks during a meeting with Ted Stevens, president pro tempore of the United States Senate and his delegation.

　　The US delegation arrived in Beijing on Sunday on an eight-day official goodwill visit.

　　Hu said the Chinese government is glad to see that US President George W. Bush and other leaders had clearly reiterated their stance on the Taiwan issue, which is adhering to the "one-China" policy, observing the three Sino-US joint communiques, and opposing the independence of Taiwan.

　　China hopes the US will keep its promises on the issue, translate its commitments into concrete actions, and not send wrong signals to the Taiwan independence forces, the president said.

　　Hu insisted that safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as realizing at an early date a completely reunified motherland, was the common will of the 1.3 billion Chinese people.

　　Hu said he believed that the American people, who also suffered wars for their country's reunification and independence, would understand the strong national will of the Chinese people. He hoped the US Congress would play a positive role in this aspect.

　　The Chinese leader said different histories, cultural traditions, social systems and values between China and the US should not prevent both sides from strengthening exchanges and communications and increasing understanding and friendship on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment.

　　Stevens replied that the US Senate has sent its highest-ranking delegation to Beijing, sending a clear signal that the US attaches great importance to its ties with China.

　　The visit will officially launch the exchange mechanism between the US Senate and China's National People's Congress, he revealed, adding that the trip will be conducive to the further development of Sino-US ties.

　　Stevens said that both the US and China shoulder a great responsibility in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and even the world.

　　He reiterated that the US will stick to its "one-China" policy on the Taiwan issue.

　　Stevens and his delegation were invited as guests of China's top legislator Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

　　(Xinhua)