On the morning of March 21, 2005, Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in the tower building of the Foreign Ministry.

Li expressed welcome to Rice's visit to China shortly after she took office as the US Secretary of Sate. Li said that President Hu Jintao and President Bush had reached important common consensuses on furthering China-US constructive cooperative relations during their meeting in Chile in last November and agreed to realize mutual visit this year, conduct China-US strategic dialogue and strengthen bilateral consultations, cooperation and coordination on the major issues of economy and trade, anti-terrorism and the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue. The development direction of China-US relations has become fairly clear. Both sides should actively implement the important common consensuses reached by the leaders of the two countries and reinforce exchanges and cooperation in all fields and properly handle related issues on the basis of mutual benefit so as to pave the way for the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties in the next four years.

Rice said that the US and China hold common consensus on many major issues, but they also have differences. The US is willing to maintain the momentum of high-level contact with China and solve differences and constantly strengthen bilateral cooperation in the principle of mutual respect.

Li pointed out that the Taiwan question remains to the biggest challenge to China-US relations. The proper solution of the question is directly linked with the steady development of China-US relations. At present the situation across the Taiwan Straits is still complicated and sensitive. To oppose and curb "Taiwan independence" and maintain peace and stability between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are in the interest of both the US and China. He expressed hope that the US could fulfill its commitment to adhering to the one-China policy, observing the three China-US joint communiqués and opposing "Taiwan independence" with tangible actions and refrain from making any remark or taking any behavior which might aggravate tension across the Straits.

Rice noted that the US government would not change the position of pursuing the one-China policy and abiding by the three US-China joint communiqués. But the US government is concerned about the development of the situation across the Taiwan Straits and believes that the Taiwan question should be solved peacefully.

Both sides also exchanged opinions on regional conflicts and the Korean Peninsular nuclear issue.