    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [November 20, 2005]
    [Pages 1748-1750]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Hu in
    Beijing
    November 20, 2005

        President Hu. The honorable President, George W. Bush, dear friends
    from the media, ladies and gentlemen: I'm delighted to have this
    opportunity to meet with the press. And to begin with, I would like to
    extend a warmest welcome to President Bush. Welcome to China.
        Just now I had a friendly and candid talk with President Bush. The
    two sides were able to have an indepth exchange of views on the China-
    U.S. relationship as well as on major international and regional issues
    of shared interest.
        We both are very delighted to see the good development in the China-
    U.S. relationship over a recent period of time. We both believe that to
    keep the China-U.S. relationship on a track of sustained, healthy, and
    stable development is not only what is required by our times but also
    the shared aspiration of our two peoples.
        We both agree to view and handle the China-U.S. relationship from a
    strategic plane and in a long-term perspective, jointly acceptable by
    our common interests, properly handle each other's concerns, increase
    our mutual understanding, expand our common ground, and deepen our
    mutual trust, in an effort to comprehensively move forward the China-
    U.S. constructive and cooperative relationship in the 21st century.
        We both believe that it serves the common interests of our two
    countries and two peoples to further expand the economic cooperation and
    trade between our two countries. The two sides will continue to follow
    the principle of equality, mutual benefit, and common development, and
    continuously expand the scope of our cooperation in an effort to achieve
    mutual benefit and win-win results.
        The two sides also expressed their willingness to join hands
    together to gradually achieve a balanced trade between China and the
    United States in the process of further expanding the trade between the
    two countries. The frictions and problems that may arise in this rapid
    development of the two-way trade may be properly addressed through
    consultations.
        I made it clear to Mr. President that the Chinese side is willing to
    step up its protection for intellectual property rights, enhance its
    efforts in fighting crime involving the violations of intellectual
    property rights, and stands ready to further increase its cooperation
    with the United States in this regard. We will follow the principle of
    benefiting not only China but also the world at large and unswervingly
    press ahead with the reform of the formation mechanism for the RNB
    exchange rate.
        We both indicated our willingness to deepen our counterterrorism
    cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit. The two
    sides have already reached a memorandum of understanding on their
    cooperation on the Megaport Initiative.
        We both agree to further expand the exchanges and cooperation
    between the two countries in such fields as culture, education, science
    and technology, and youth.

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        We both believe that the spread and the possible spread to humans of
    the avian flu is a common threat facing all countries in this world, and
    we reached an agreement on strengthening a joint initiative on better
    cooperation in the prevention and control of the avian flu. And we will
    jointly support and take part in the prevention and control cooperation
    of avian flu in the region and the world at large.
        I reaffirmed to President Bush that the Chinese Government and that
    the Chinese people are committed to peace and stability in the Taiwan
    Strait, and we are ready to do our utmost with all sincerity to strive
    for the prospect of a peaceful reunification of our country. This being
    said, we will by no means tolerate so-called Taiwan independence. I
    highly appreciate that President Bush has, on various occasions, stated
    his commitment to the ``one China'' policy, the three Sino-U.S. joint
    communiques, and his opposition to so-called Taiwan independence. To
    oppose and check so-called Taiwan independence and safeguard peace and
    stability in the Taiwan Strait serves the common interest of China and
    the United States.
        We both believe that China and United States share broad, common
    interests on a number of important issues like the U.N. reform, the
    development issue facilitating the Doha round negotiations, addressing
    regional flashpoints, preventing and tackling terrorism, and preventing
    the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, preventing and
    controlling natural disasters, and controlling epidemic and other major
    diseases. And we also shoulder great common responsibilities in all
    those areas. The two sides both agree to step up their cooperation in
    the affairs in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world arena.
        We both said that major progress for current stage has been produced
    at the fourth round of the six-party talks, and as far as the first
    phase of the fifth round of the six-party talks is concerned, generally
    speaking, the atmosphere has been businesslike and pragmatic. The two
    sides will continue to work together with other parties involved to move
    forward the process of the six-party talks in an endeavor to peacefully
    resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula at an early date.
        Besides, I also briefed President Bush about China's unswerving
    commitment to a role of peaceful development and China's development in
    terms of democratic politics and human rights. China's commitment to a
    role of peaceful development is a choice that China must make in light
    of its national conditions. It's a choice that China must make on the
    basis of its historical and cultural heritage, and also a choice that
    China must make in light of the current trend in the development of the
    world. China's development is peaceful, open, and cooperative in nature.
        Ever since the founding of the People's Republic several decades
    ago, and particularly since the start of China's reforms and opening up,
    notable and historic progress has been made in China's development of a
    democratic political system and human rights. The Chinese people are
    exercising their right of democratic elections, democratic
    decisionmaking, democratic management, and democratic supervision,
    according to law.
        In the future, we'll continue to take into account China's national
    conditions and follow the wishes of the Chinese people and continuously
    build democratic politics of Chinese characteristics in the process of
    continuously raising the level of human rights enjoyed by the Chinese
    people.
        Win-win cooperation is the mainstream of the China-U.S.
    relationship. Given their different histories, cultures, and national
    conditions, it is inevitable that China and the United States may have
    some different opinions on some issues. The two sides ought to follow a
    spirit of mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving their
    differences and act on the basis of the basic norms governing
    international

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    relations and handle and advance their differences properly through
    dialog.
        President Bush issued a kind invitation to me for a visit to the
    United States, which I accepted with pleasure. Ladies and gentlemen,
    looking ahead, the Chinese side is willing to work together with the
    U.S. side to continuously move forward the China-U.S. relationship and
    continuously move forward the lofty cause of mankind, peace, and
    development, to the benefit of the Chinese and American peoples and
    people throughout the world.
        Thank you. Now the floor is yours, Mr. President.
        President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much, and thank you
    for your hospitality. Laura and I are glad to be
    back in China. And I thank you for the constructive conversation we just
    had.
        The United States and China share many common opportunities and
    challenges in the 21st century. We're important trading partners. We
    benefit from a system of free and fair trade. We'll continue to work
    with China to open up markets and level the playing field for American
    goods and services and work with China to strengthen protection of
    intellectual property rights. And we'll continue to work with China to
    help implement its July commitment to a flexible market-based currency.
        It is important that social, political, and religious freedoms grow
    in China. And we encourage China to continue making the historic
    transition to greater freedom.
        The United States expresses our deepest condolences to China for the
    Chinese citizens killed in the terrorist attack in Amman, Jordan.
    Terrorism is a threat to both our countries, and I welcome China's
    cooperation in the war against terror.
        Our two nations seek a Korean Peninsula that is stable, at peace,
    and free of nuclear weapons. Thank you for taking a lead in the six-
    party talks. The fourth round of the six-party talks in September ended
    with a joint statement in which North Korea committed to abandon all
    nuclear weapons and all existing nuclear programs. The United States
    expects them to honor that commitment.
        And we had a good talk about energy. China is a growing economy, and
    China recognizes, like the United States recognizes, in order to keep
    our economies growing in the years to come, we've got to share
    technologies and diversify away from hydrocarbons.
        Our two countries are working together to address the threat of the
    pandemic disease through the international partnership on avian and
    pandemic influenza. Mr. President, thank you for your lead on this
    issue. The President gave a very strong statement at APEC about the need
    for all of us to work together on a potential pandemic.
        The relationship between China and the United States is an important
    relationship. This trip will make it stronger. And, Mr. President,
    Laura and I look forward to welcoming you and
    Madam Liu to the White House next year. Thank
    you very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:05 p.m. in the Hebei Room at the Great
    Hall of the People. In his remarks, he referred to Liu Yongqing, wife of
    President Hu.