Lima, Nov 22 : Chinese President Hu Jintao told his US counterpart George W. Bush relations between the two countries have made significant strides over the past years and stressed that disagreement over sensitive issues like Taiwan should be tackled properly.
Hu met Bush Friday on the sidelines of the summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in the Peruvian capital where leaders of industrialised and emerging economies of the Asia-Pacific region have gathered to a find way out of the current global economic crisis.
"Reviewing the development of the Sino-US relations over the past years, the most important experience we gained is that we should proceed from a strategic and long-term perspective and take a firm hold of the main course of the constructive and cooperative Sino-US relations," Hu told Bush.
"The two countries should strengthen mutual trust and cooperation and deal with disagreements and sensitive issues properly, in particular, the Taiwan question," the Chinese president stressed.
The Taiwan question remains the most important and sensitive issue in Sino-US relations, Hu said, noting that the one-China principle can never be changed.
After the Chinese Communist Party seized power from the nationalist Kuomingtang party in 1949, the latter set up its own government in Taiwan and claimed itself the legitimate government of the land with the backing of the US. China, under the One-China policy claims that Taiwan is a part of the mainland and the island's government has no legal standing.
Bush, who will step down in January handing over office to President-elect Barack Obama, pledged to continue his efforts to promote US-China ties.
He underscored the importance of the US-China economic and trade relations, urging both sides to make joint efforts to advance the Doha round of talks and take concrete actions to prevent protectionism.
He also appreciated China's active participation in the G20 summit and lauded the constructive role that China played at the meeting.
The two leaders also exchanged views on the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, and the Doha round of trade talks and agreed to keep in touch over these issues.
--- IANS
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