President briefs Rice on Korean talks

　　President Hu Jintao told visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday that he hopes the United States will "see clearly the nature and harms of Taiwan secessionist forces and their activities."

　　Hu also said he hopes the United States "will honor the commitments that US President George W. Bush reiterated repeatedly on adhering to the one-China policy, observing the three Sino-US joint communiques and opposing Taiwan independence."

　　And he expressed the hope that the United States would "understand and support all the efforts made by the Chinese government and people to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and realize a peaceful reunification," urging Washington not to "send any wrong signal" to Taiwan independence advocates.

　　The president said properly handling "the Taiwan question" remains the key to the sound and steady development of Sino-US relations, and the anti-secession law passed by China's National People's Congress on March 14 aims to "promote the development of relations across the Taiwan Strait, push forward a peaceful reunification, oppose and curb Taiwan independence and safeguard peace and stability across the strait."

　　Rice said it is in the US interest to maintain tranquility across the Taiwan Strait and solve the Taiwan question peacefully, and that the United States will make efforts to advance that aim.

　　She said the US government's position on pursuing the one-China policy and abiding by the three US-China joint communiques will not change.

　　Regarding the six-party talks on the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Hu said China is willing to work with everyone concerned, including the United States, to resume the talks at an early date.

　　Hu said China, while insisting that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear weapons-free, is devoting itself to solving the issue through the six-party talks and to safeguarding peace and stability there.

　　Rice said the United States also regards the talks as the best way to resolve the nuclear issue.

　　On bilateral relations, Hu said the two countries should further strengthen dialogue and cooperation.

　　Premier Wen Jiabao also met with Rice yesterday. Wen and the US secretary expressed their mutual desire to enhance China-US ties and discussed Taiwan and economic affairs.

　　(Xinhua)