On October 25, 2002, President Jiang Zemin met with US President Bush in the latter's private ranch in Crawford, Texas, the United States.

This is the third meeting between President Jiang Zemin and Bush in only one year. When Jiang and his wife arrived, they were warmly welcomed by the Bushes. Bush said that the ranch is his warm home. He and his wife Laura are pleased to receive Jiang and his wife Wang Yeping at home.

Jiang thanked President Bush, the US government and its people for the warm reception. He said that we said in Shanghai last year that the two countries have wide-ranging common interests and should develop a constructive cooperative relationship. Over the past year, bilateral relations have gained good momentum as bilateral cooperation has been further expanded and mutual understanding deepened. China and the United States, two great countries, share important common interests in a broad range of areas and the two sides should widen mutual exchanges and cooperation in all fields, and enhance dialogue and coordination on major international and regional issues, so as to push forward the development of the Sino-US constructive cooperative relationship.

Bush said that the United States and China share common interests on many major issues, and he expressed the hope that the two countries can establish a strong and friendly relationship. The American people have showed great interest in Jiang's current important visit and wish the visit a success.

The two leaders believed that it's very important to maintain top-level strategic dialogues and contacts between the two countries and agreed to enhance such contacts.

The two sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in anti-terrorism on a two-way and mutually beneficial basis, and to hold the third round of anti-terror consultations within this year. They also agreed to conduct cooperation on the security of container transportation and trade.

Jiang emphasized that the Taiwan issue is of far-reaching and important influence on Sino-US relations. The Chinese government adheres to its fundamental policies of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems". China has been making the utmost efforts for the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan issue in its efforts to realize the reunification of the motherland. The problem is that the forces seeking "Taiwan independence" are trying every possible way to damage the prospect of peaceful resolution. The separatist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces constitute the biggest threat to the stability across the Taiwan Straits and to the development of Sino-US relations. He hoped that the US side would stick to the One China policy and the three Sino-US communiques, and play a constructive role inthe peaceful reunification of China.

Bush said the US side understands the sensitivity of the Taiwan issue, adheres to the One China policy and opposes the independence of Taiwan. The United States appreciates China's stand on the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue. The above-mentioned policy of the US government will remain unchanged.

Jiang said that we live in a colorful and diversified world, in which different social systems and patterns of development co-exist for a long period of time, learning from each others' strongpoints for common development in competition and comparison. This is a manifestation of advancement of human civilization.

The two sides also exchanged views on such issues as human rights and religion, and agreed to enhance mutual understanding and broaden consensus through dialogue and in the spirit of mutual respect and equality.

The two leaders held an in-depth discussion of major international and regional issues of common concern.

On the Iraqi issue, Jiang said the Chinese side has consistently held that Iraq should implement the relevant resolutions by UN Security Council seriously and comprehensively, while a political solution should be found within the framework of the United Nations and on the basis of the resolutions.

On the nuclear issue of the DPRK, Jiang pointed out that China has consistently supported the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and wishes to see peace and stability on the peninsula. The two leaders agreed that the two sides maintain consultation with each other on the issue and make joint efforts to ensure that the issue is resolved peacefully.

Jiang invited Bush to visit China again and the US president accepted the invitation with pleasure.

It is learnt that the two sides have agreed that US Vice President Dick Cheney will pay a formal visit to China early next year at the invitation of Vice President Hu Jintao. The two sides agreed on the resumption of bilateral military exchanges, and will hold consultations at vice defense ministerial level on defense and carry out other exchanges in the near future.The two sides also decided to establish a consultation mechanism at vice foreign ministerial level on issues of strategic security, multilateral arms control and non-proliferation.