Vice-President Zeng Qinghong talks with Cheney

cctv.com 04-14-2004 09:11

China has again warned the US not to send wrong signals to Taiwan. Vice-President Zeng Qinghong told visiting US Vice-President Dick Cheney that Washington should stop selling weapons to the island. The two leaders also discussed ways to narrow their trade differences.

On Wednesday Cheney will meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, President Hu Jintao, and the Central Military Committee Chairman Jiang Zemin.

On the second leg of his three-nation Asian tour, Cheney went straight to talks with his Chinese counterpart Vice President Zeng Qinghong.

The long-standing Taiwan issue is on top of the agenda. Zeng Qinghong stressed that the results of Taiwan's election will not change the fact that it is part of China.

He told Cheney that Beijing will show zero-tolerance for Taiwan's independence. The US should, he said, stop selling weapons to Taiwan.

Washington plans to sell Taiwan long-range early warning radar worth 1.8 billion US dollars.

Cheney reiterated Washington's stance against Taiwan's independence.

On the economic front, the US hopes China will help to balance its trade deficit. One of Cheney's missions is to persuade China to buy US-made nuclear power reactors worth billions of dollars. China has shown interest, but insists that the US drop its restrictions on hi-tech product exports.

The violence in Iraq has cast a shadow on Dick Cheney's visit to Beijing. But the vice-president caught a break just before his arrival, with the release of the seven Chinese hostages in Iraq. This will clear the way for the two sides to focus on other hard issues.

Links:

Sino - US relations on track despite challenges

Premier Wen meets US Vice President

Jiang Zemin meets US Vice President

Editor:Zhang  Source:CCTV.com