    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [February 21, 2002]
    [Pages 263-267]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Jiang Zemin of China in Beijing
    February 21, 2002

        President Jiang. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like
    to begin by extending on behalf of the Chinese Government and people a
    warm welcome to President Bush.
        This is my second meeting with the President. Four months ago, we
    had a successful meeting during the APEC Summit in Shanghai. In our
    talks today, President Bush and I looked back on the past 30 years of
    China-U.S. relations and had an in-depth discussion on bilateral ties
    and the current international situation. We have reached many important
    common understandings and achieved positive results in many areas.
        We have agreed that under the current complex and volatile
    international situation, China and the United States, both with
    significant influence in the world, should step up dialog and
    cooperation, properly handle their differences, and work together to
    move the constructive and cooperative relations between us further
    forward.
        We have agreed to intensify high-level strategic dialog, as well as
    contacts between various agencies at all levels, with a view to
    increasing mutual understanding and trust. I have accepted with pleasure
    and appreciation President Bush's invitation to visit the United States
    in October this year, prior to the APEC meeting in Mexico. At the
    invitation of Vice President Cheney, Vice President Hu Jintao will visit
    the United States in the near future.
        We have agreed to vigorously carry out bilateral exchanges and
    cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, energy, science and
    technology, environmental protection, the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and
    law enforcement, conduct strategic dialog on regional economic and
    financial matters, and hold within the year meetings of the Joint
    Economic Commission, Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, and Joint
    Commission on Science and Technology.
        President Bush and I have also had an in-depth discussion on the
    international fight against terrorism. We have agreed to step up
    consultation and cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual
    benefit and to beef up the bilateral mid- and long-term mechanism for
    counterterrorism exchanges and cooperation. The two sides have also
    exchanged views on a series of major international and regional issues,
    and decided to enhance communication and coordination.
        To properly handle the Taiwan question is vital to stability and
    growth of China-U.S. relations. In my meeting with President Bush, I
    have elaborated the Chinese Government's basic position of peaceful
    reunification and ``one country, two systems'' for the solution of the
    Taiwan question. And President Bush emphasized that the United States
    upholds the ``one China'' policy and will abide by the three Sino-U.S.
    joint communiques.
        Given the differences in the national condition of the two
    countries, it is natural

    [[Page 264]]

    for China and the United States to disagree on some issues, which
    President Bush and I have discussed with candor. So long as the two
    sides act in a spirit of mutual respect, equality, and seeking common
    ground while shelving differences, we will be able to gradually narrow
    our differences, enhance our mutual understanding, and advance our
    cooperation.
        It is my hope and conviction that today's meeting will have a
    positive impact on improvement and growth of China-U.S. relations.
        Thank you. It is your turn now, Mr. President. [Laughter]
        President Bush. Well, 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.
        This is the 30th year--30th anniversary of President Nixon's first
    visit to China, the beginning of 30 years of growth in the U.S.-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 our 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 in 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 agreed that the United States
    and China could cooperate more closely to defeat HIV/AIDS.
        Our talks were candid, and that's 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.

    National Missile Defense

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President, for your 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 envision circumstances 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?
        President 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've just recently gotten out from underneath the 1972 Anti-
    Ballistic Missile Treaty and

    [[Page 265]]

    are beginning to explore the full options as to whether or not a system
    will work. And that's the extent of our conversation.

    China-U.S. Relations

        Q. Just now, President Bush mentioned that today marks the 30th
    anniversary of the first visit to China by President Bush. In 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, how would you characterize the relationship over the past 30 years?
        President 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 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 serves 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 bear in mind the larger picture, take a long-term
    perspective, and abide by the principles in the three Sino-U.S. joint
    communiques, the relationship will make even bigger strides forward in
    the years ahead.
        Thank you.

    North Korea/China's Role in the Coalition

        Q. Thank you. 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 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 antiterror 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?
        President Bush. Let me start. We discussed the Korean Peninsula, and
    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 Chong-il last
    fall, urging Kim Chong-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 a North Korean regime.
    And I asked his help in conveying that message to Kim Chong-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
    dialog. And the Chinese Government can be very helpful.
        Furthermore, in the first theater in the war against terror, part of
    the call for our

    [[Page 266]]

    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 in its opportunities to develop its own army, as well as its
    own economy, its own security. And so they've been helpful there, as
    well.
        Thank you.

    China's Economic Development/Catholic Bishops in China/Korean Peninsula/
    Iraq

        Q. I have 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's your comment,
    President Jiang?
        And secondly, in your opening remarks, President Jiang, you
    mentioned that the key to steady growth of 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?
        President Jiang. We're living in a world of diversity. As two major
    countries with different national conditions, China and the U.S. have,
    indeed, had certain disagreements. But they also share broad and
    important common interests. So the old mindsets which views the
    relationship 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 reform and opening-up program,
    China's national strength and people's living standards have somewhat
    improved in recent years. Yet, compared with the developed countries,
    our economic and cultural developments remains quite backwards. With a
    population of over 1.2 billion, the road ahead is still very long before
    we can basically complete modernization and deliver a better life to all
    our people. To focus on economic development and improvements of
    people's livelihoods is our long-term central task.
        What China wants most is a peaceful and tranquil international
    environment with long-term stability, to 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 raised questions for President Bush. President
    Bush, he has much more experience than I. [Laughter] 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 People's Republic of China, all our constitutions,
    various versions, have provided for the freedom of religious belief. In
    China there are many religions which include Buddhism, Catholicism,
    Protestantism, Islam, and a typical Chinese religion, Taoism. And their
    religious faiths are protected by our Constitution.
        I don't have religious faith. Yet this does not prevent me from
    having an interest in religion. I've read the Bible. I've 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
    the celebrate the new year or during the holiday season, I would have
    meetings with them and exchange views.

    [[Page 267]]

        Whatever religion people believe in, they have to abide by the law.
    So some of the lawbreakers have been detained because of their violation
    of law, not because of their religious belief. Although I'm the
    President of this country, I have no right interfering in the judicial
    affairs, because of judicial independence.
        You also asked 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 the Korean Peninsula to
    have peace and stability. We hope that the problems between DPRK and ROK
    can be resolved through dialog. 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 a spirit of equality,
    and through consultation. And that's why I've explained our consistent
    and clear-cut position on the question of Korean Peninsula. It's quite
    near.
        You asked about Iraq. Iraq is not as near. But I think, as I made
    clear in my discussion with President Bush just now, the important thing
    is 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 4 months
    ago. 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 enjoying national unity and peace.
        Let me conclude by quoting a Chinese proverb: ``More haste, less
    speed.'' Despite the fact that sometimes you will have problems that cry
    out for immediate solution, yet patience is sometime 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 continuous our unlimiting efforts to fight terrorism.
        Thank you.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 1:15 p.m. in the Great
    Hall of the People. In his remarks, he referred to Chairman Kim Chong-il
    of North Korea and President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea. President
    Jiang spoke in Chinese, and his remarks were translated by an
    interpreter.