Chinese president: Mutual respect, consideration of core interests key to Sino-U.S. ties

Chinese President Hu Jintao said during a meeting with his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama in London Wednesday that mutual respect for and consideration of each other's core interests are key to ensuring a sound and stable development of Chinese-U.S. relations.

The Chinese president noted that the Taiwan issue remains the most important and sensitive core issue in China-U.S. relations.

As situation across the Taiwan Strait continues to improve, cross-strait relations have got on the track of peaceful development, he said.

No matter how the situation across the strait evolves, China will steadfastly adhere to the one-China policy and resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence," "One China, one Taiwan" and "Two Chinas," he said.

China appreciates the U.S. government's commitment to the one-China policy and the three Chinese-U.S. joint communiques, as well as its opposition to "Taiwan independence" and Taiwan's joining international organizations limited to sovereign states, Hu said. 

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama during their meeting in London, Britain, on April 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)
China hopes the United States will honor its commitment and properly deal with issues related to Taiwan and support the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, he said.

Hu also said Tibet has always been an inseparable part of China, and the Chinese government has been practicing regional autonomy in Tibet and striving to safeguard human rights and religious freedom of the people there according to laws. China is also committed to the preservation of Tibet's fine traditional culture, he added.

China hopes the United States will adhere to its recognition that Tibet is an inseparable part of China's territory and its opposition to "Tibet independence," and fully understand and respect China's stand in this regard, Hu said.

Obama, for his part, said the U.S. government is committed to the one-China policy and the three U.S.-China joint communiques, and this stand remains unchanged.

The United States welcomes and supports efforts to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait and hopes for greater progress in the relations, the U.S. president said.


Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd L) shakes hands with U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd R) during their meeting in London, Britain, on April 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
Tibet is a part of China, and the United States will not support "Tibet independence," Obama added.

The two leaders also pledged to keep close contact and coordination with each other, and work together to settle disputes and ease tensions that may give rise to regional and global instability.

Both sides will join hands to ensure proper solutions to the nuclear issues on the Korean Peninsula and in Iran, humanitarian assistance in Sudan and the situation in South Asia.

The Chinese and U.S. leaders met ahead of a Group of 20 (G20) summit on the financial crisis slated for Thursday in London.


Chinese President Hu Jintao (2nd R) and U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) meet in London, Britain, on April 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)
This is the first meeting between the two heads of state since the new U.S. administration came into office in January.

Obama has accepted an invitation from President Hu Jintao to visit China in the second half of this year.