On the evening of February 15, Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush exchanged views in a previously arranged telephone conversation on bilateral ties and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

 

Thanks to the joint efforts of all parties concerned, the six-party talks have yielded positive results, adopting a joint document, which marks a significant step forward toward the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, Hu said.  A full implementation of the document is not only of great significance to safeguarding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia, but also serves the common interests of all parties concerned, Hu added.   President Hu also said China is willing to maintain close communication and cooperation with the United States and other parties concerned and willing to continue to play a constructive role in fully implementing the join document and the joint statement issued at the last round of six-party talks in Sept. 2005, in helping substantially advance the denuclearization process on the Korean Peninsula and in realizing a lasting peace and stability on the Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

 

For his part, Bush said under constructive cooperation of all parties concerned, good progress has been made toward solving the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, which provides a new opportunity for realizing denuclearization on the Peninsula. The United States is willing to continue to cooperate closely with China to promote the implementation of the joint document, Bush said.

 

Bush also expressed the hope that the two countries can continue to strengthen cooperation on major issues of common concern.

On bilateral ties, President Hu said the development of the Sino-U.S. ties has been maintaining a good momentum and agreements reached between the two sides have been implemented smoothly.  Stressing the year 2007 is an important year in the development of the Sino-U.S. relations, Hu said China is willing to work together with the United States to bear in mind the overall development of Sino-U.S. ties, to enhance dialogue and cooperation in various fields, to deepen strategic mutual trust and to safeguard the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, in a bid to guarantee the constructive and cooperative relations between the two countries will move forward in a sustained, sound and stable manner.

 

Meanwhile, Bush extended greetings to Hu and the Chinese people on the Spring Festival and he also said he looked forward to meeting again with President Hu.