On June 8, 2007, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with U.S. President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the meeting between the Group of Eight major industrialized nations and five major developing countries in Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm, exchanging views on bilateral ties, as well as other international and regional issues of common concern.
Hu made positive comments on the new progress made in bilateral ties, as well as on the broad cooperation between the two countries on major international and regional issues. Under the current international situation, a steady and healthy growth of Sino-U.S. ties complies with the fundamental interests of both nations and peoples and will play an active role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. "China is willing to work with the United States so as to ensure the Sino-U.S. constructive and cooperative partnership to move along a correct track," he said.
Hu raised a five-point proposal on the development of Sino-U.S. ties. First, both countries should continue to cultivate strategic mutual trust, objectively view the development and correctly understand the strategic intention of the other, said Hu. He urged both sides to enhance communication and dialogue, increase trust and expand consensus so as to promote cooperation. Second, Hu called on the U.S. side to properly handle the Taiwan question and jointly maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and the common strategic interests of the two countries. Third, he stressed that both should "meticulously maintain the overall situation in the Sino-U.S. trade" and "comprehensively and objectively view" the problems during the rapid growth of Sino-U.S. economic cooperation. Hu said China-U.S. strategic economic dialogue as well as the joint commissions on trade, economy and science and technology should play a bigger role. Economic and trade frictions should be dealt with by equal dialogue and consultation and politicization of trade issues should be avoided to push for sound development of Sino-U.S. trade ties, he said. Fourth, Hu also suggested China and the United States expand cooperation and consultation in such areas as energy, environmental protection and climate change to make a contribution to maintaining the world's energy security, combating global climate change and improving habitat. Fifth, on major international and regional issues, the two countries can also deepen consultation and coordination in a joint effort to safeguard and promote peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole, Hu said.
Bush said China's rapidly expanding economic might is noteworthy in the international community. The bilateral strategic economic dialogue, a way to resolve the trade frictions, should be continued, he said.
Bush said the stance of the U.S. government on the Taiwan question remains unchanged, and the U.S. side opposed the acts that will change the status quo across the Taiwan Straits.
Bush also thanked for China's endeavor to tackle the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and appreciated the active efforts made by China on Darfur and Iran's nuclear issue.
State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan attended the meeting.
