Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush met
the press after their formal talks at the Great Hall of the People
Thursday morning. Following is the full text of the press
conference, including opening remarks and question and answers.
Opening remarks of Jiang and Bush at the joint press
conference
President Jiang Zemin:
First of all, on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese
people, I would like to express my warm welcome to President Bush's
visit to China.
This is my second meeting with President Bush. Four months ago, we
had a successful meeting during the APEC meetings in Shanghai.
In
our talks today, President Bush and I reviewed 30 years of Sino-US
relations and had in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and
the current international situation. We have reached consensus on
many important issues and achieved positive results in many
areas.
We
hold the common view that, faced with the current complicated and
constantly changing international situation, China and the United
States, two countries with an important influence in the world,
should reinforce their dialogues and cooperation, appropriately
handle differences and jointly promote the development of Sino-US
constructive cooperation relations.
We
agree to reinforce high-level strategic dialogues and contacts at
different levels and between different departments, so as to
increase mutual understanding and mutual trust. With thanks and
pleasure, I accepted President Bush's invitation to visit the
United States before attending APEC meetings in October this year
in Mexico. At the invitation of Vice President Cheney, Vice
President Hu Jintao will visit the United States in the near
future.
We
agree to actively carry out exchanges and cooperation in economic
and trade, energy, science and technology, environment protection,
prevention and treatment of AIDS, law enforcement and other fields,
hold strategic dialogues on regional economic and financial issues,
and will convene three joint meetings within this year on economy,
trade, and science and technology respectively.
President Bush and I also had an in-depth discussion on the
international anti-terror campaign, and agreed to step up
consultations and cooperation in this regard on a two-way and
mutually beneficial basis, and reinforce medium- and long-term
mechanisms for anti-terror exchanges and cooperation between the
two countries. We also exchanged views on a series of important
international and regional issues, and decided to step up
communication and coordination.
Appropriately handling the Taiwan question is the key to ensuring a
steady development of Sino-US relations. I explained to President
Bush the Chinese government's basic position of "peaceful
reunification; one country, two systems" regarding the settlement
of the Taiwan question. President Bush stressed that the US side
will adhere to the One China policy and observe the three Sino-US
joint communiques. During the talks we both expressed opposition to
"Taiwan independence" and the hope of solving the Taiwan question
peacefully.
China and the United States have different conditions, and the
existence of some differences is normal. President Bush and I
discussed these problems candidly. As long as we both adhere to the
spirit of mutual respect, equality, and seeking common ground while
reserving differences, we could continuously reduce differences,
have consensus on a broader range of issues and promote cooperation
between the two countries.
I
wish and believe that my meeting with President Bush will have a
positive impact on the improvement and development of Sino-US
relations.
US
President BUSH:
Thank you, Mr. President.
I
appreciate so very much your hospitality. We have just concluded
some very candid and positive talks. It is true that I invited the
president to the United States next fall. It's true he
accepted.
Now, this is the 30th year--30th anniversary of President Nixon's
first visit to China, the beginning of 30 years of growth in the
US-China relationship. Our ties are mature, respectful and
important to both our nations and to the world.
We
discussed a lot of issues starting with terrorism. We recognize
that terrorism is a threat to both our countries. And I welcome
China's cooperation in the war against terror. I encourage China to
continue to be a force for peace among its neighbors, on the Korean
Peninsula, in Southeast Asia, and South Asia.
China, as a full member of the WTO, will now be a full partner in
the global trading system and will have the right and
responsibility to fashion and enforce the rules of open trade.
My
government hopes that China will strongly oppose the proliferation
of missiles and other deadly technologies.
President Jiang and I agree that the United States and China could
cooperate more closely to defeat HIV-AIDS.
Our talks were candid, and that is very positive. The United States
shares interests with China, but we also have some disagreements.
We believe that we can discuss our differences with mutual
understanding and respect.
As
the president mentioned, we talked about Taiwan. The position of my
government has not changed over the years.
We
believe in the peaceful settlement of this issue. We will urge
there be no provocation. The United States will continue to support
the Taiwan Relations Act.
China's future is for the Chinese people to decide, yet no nation
is exempt from the demands of human dignity. All the world's
people, including the people of China, should be free to choose how
they live, how they worship and how they work.
Dramatic changes have occurred in China in the last 30 years, and I
believe equally dramatic changes lie ahead. These will have a
profound impact, not only on China itself but on the entire family
of nations.
And the United States will be a steady partner in China's historic
transition toward greater prosperity and greater freedom.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Full text of Question and Answers
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President, for you hospitality. President
Bush, on the question of strategic nuclear policy, you've said you
want to develop a missile defense system in order to defend the
United States and its allies from the threats and dangers of the
21st century. Do you invision a circumstance where that includes
Taiwan? And President Jiang, if I may, with respect, could you
explain to Americans who may not understand your reasoning why your
government restricts the practice of religious faith, in
particular, why your government has imprisoned more than 50 bishops
of the Roman Catholic Church?
BUSH: I did bring up the subject of missile defenses in the broad
context of protecting ourselves and our friends and allies against
a launch by a threatening nation.
I
explained to the president that we were--had just recently gotten
out from the underneath 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and are
beginning to explore the full options as to whether or not a system
will work. And that's the extent of our conversation.
QUESTION: Just now, President Bush mentioned that today marks the
30th anniversary of the first visit to China by President Nixon. In
a few days time, the 28th of this month, will mark the 30th
anniversary of the release of the Shanghai communique. So my
question to President Jiang is that, how would you characterize the
relationship over the past 30 years?
JIANG: We will have, in February, the 30th anniversary of the first
visit to China by President Nixon and the release of the Shanghai
communique. The visit by President Bush coincides with this day,
and his visit is highly meaningful.
Thirty years ago, leaders of China and the United States acted
together to put an end to mutual estrangement and open the gate for
exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.
History has proven that it was with great vision that our leaders
took this major move. The growth of bilateral ties over the years
has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and played an
important role in safeguarding peace in the Asia-Pacific region and
the world as a whole.
At
present, despite profound changes in the international situation,
China and the United States have more rather than less shared
interests and more rather than less common responsibility for world
peace.
The importance of the relationship has increased rather than
decreased, so to build a constructive and cooperative relationship
serve the desire of not only the people of the two countries, but
also of the people throughout the world.
The Chinese side is ready to join the U.S. side in reflecting on
the past and looking to the future, increasing exchanges and
cooperation and enhancing understanding and trust. I'm deeply
convinced that, so long as the two sides bare in mind the larger
picture, take a long-term perspective and abide by the principles
in the three China-U.S. joint communiques, the relationship will
make even bigger strides forward in the years ahead.
Thank you.
QUESTION: President Jiang, do you agree with President Bush that
there should be a regime change in Iraq? And if so, would you
support the use of all necessary means to accomplish that? And with
respect, sir, we're eager to hear the response to your--the
original question about the arrest of Catholic bishops in your
country and attention to religious groups in general? And President
Bush, you have thanked the Chinese for their cooperation in the
anti-terror campaign. As that campaign evolves, can you say today
what would be the single most important contribution that China
could make, and did you receive any assurance today that that will
happen?
BUSH: Let me start. We discussed the Korean Peninsula. I told the
president that I was deeply concerned about a regime that is not
transparent and that starves its people.
I
also--he reminded me that he had a conversation with Kim Jung Il
last fall urging Kim Jung Il to take up Kim Dae Jung's offer for
discussion. That was constructive leadership.
I
then told him that the offer I made yesterday in Seoul was a real
offer and that we would be willing to meet with the North Korean
regime, and I asked his help in conveying that message to Kim Jung
Il. If he so chooses, if he speaks to the leader of North Korea, he
can assure him that I am sincere in my desire to have our folks
meet.
My
point is that not every theater in the war against terror need be
resolved with force. Some theaters can be resolved through
diplomacy and dialogue. And the Chinese government can be very
helpful.
Furthermore, in the first theater in the war against terror, part
of the call for our coalition is to make sure that Afghanistan
becomes a self-supporting peaceful nation. And the Chinese
government is supportive of the aid efforts to make sure that we
aid the new post-Taliban, Afghani government and its opportunities
to develop its own army as well as its own economy, its own
security. So they've been helpful there as well.
Thank you.
QUESTION: I've got a two-part question. First, in recent years
China has enjoyed rapid economic growth and its national strength
has increased. Some people in the United States have concluded
that, because of this, China has posed a potential threat to the
United States, and they call for a policy of containment against
China. What is your comment, President Jiang? And secondly, in your
opening remarks, President Jiang, you mentioned that the key to
steady growth of a Sino-U.S. relationship is the proper handling of
the question of Taiwan. President Bush, in his opening remarks also
elaborated on the U.S. position on Taiwan. President Jiang, could
you comment on what President Bush has said on the question of
Taiwan?
JIANG: We are living in a world of diversity. As two major
countries with different national conditions, China and the US have
indeed certain disagreements, but they also share broad and
important common interests.
So
the old mindset which views relationships between countries as
either of alliance or confrontation ought to be abandoned and a new
security concept which features security through mutual trust and
cooperation through mutual benefit should be established.
It's true that since the inception of the reform and opening up
program, China's national strengths and people's living standards
have somewhat improved in recent years, yet compared with the
developed countries, our economic and cultural development remains
quite backwards.
With a population of over 1.3 billion, the road ahead is still very
long before we can basically complete modernization and deliver a
better-off life to all our people.
To
focus on economic development and the improvement of people's
livelihood is our long-term central task. What China wants most is
a peaceful and tranquil international environment with long-term
stability: Do not do unto others what you would not like others to
do unto you. Even if China becomes more developed in the future, it
will not go for bullying or threatening other countries.
Facts have proven already and will continue to prove that China is
a staunch force dedicated to the maintenance of peace in the region
and the world at large.
Now, let me comment on the questions posed to me by the American
correspondents as they raise the questions for President Bush.
When it comes to meeting the press, I think President Bush is much
more experienced. I will do my best to answer your question.
In
the first question, the correspondent mentioned that some of the
Catholic Church people have been detained. I want to explain that,
since the founding of the People's Republic of China, all our
constitutions, including amendments, have provided for the freedom
of religious belief. In China, there are many religions, which
includes Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and a typical
Chinese religion, Daoism, and their religious faiths are protected
by our constitution.
I
don't have religious faith. Yet this does not prevent me from
having interest in religion. I have read the Bible. I have also
read the Koran, as well as the scriptures of Buddhism.
I
often have meetings with the religious leaders in this country. For
instance, when we are about to celebrate the new year or during the
holiday season, I would have meetings with them and exchange
views.
Whatever religion people believe in, they have to abide by the law.
So some of the law breakers have been detained because of their
violation of law, not because of their religious belief. Although
I'm the president of this county, I have no right interfering in
the judicial affairs because of judicial independence.
You also ask about the Korean peninsula issue. President Bush has
also commented on this. In our talks just now, the two of us
exchanged views on the Korean peninsula. I want to make clear that
we have all along pursued such a position. That is, we want Korean
Peninsula to have peace and stability.
We
hope that the problems between DPRK and ROK can be resolved through
dialogue, and we also sincerely hope that the contacts between the
United States and DPRK will be resumed.
All in all, in handling state-to-state relations, it is important
to resolve the problems through peaceful means, in the spirit of
equality and through consultation.
And that's why I've explained our consistence and clear-cut
position on the question of the Korean peninsula. It's quite
near.
You ask about Iraq. I think, as I made clear in my discussion with
President Bush just now, importantly that peace is to be valued
most.
With regard to counterterrorism, our position has not changed from
the position I made clear to President Bush when we last met four
months ago in Shanghai, and that is, China is firmly opposed to
international terrorism of all forms.
I'm very pleased to see that Afghanistan has now embarked on a road
of peaceful reconstruction. I wish them well. I hope they will
succeed in rebuilding their country and enjoy national unity and
peace.
Let me conclude by quoting a Chinese proverb: "More haste, less
speed." That is to say, despite the fact that sometimes you will
have problems that cry out for immediate solution, yet patience is
sometimes also necessary.
Or
perhaps, I could quote another Chinese old saying to describe the
situation: "One cannot expect to dig a well with one spade." So we
need to make gradual efforts to fight terrorism.
Thank you all.
(China
Daily February 21, 2002)