On the evening of December 7, 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao met with famous experts and scholars of the United States at the hotel he stayed, during which they had an in-depth exchange of views on China-US economic relations and trade, the exchange rate of RMB and cross-strait relations.

Fred Bergsten, Director of the Institute of International Economics, Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, David Lampton, Director of Chinese Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies,Stephen Roach, Morgan Stanley Executive Chairperson, and Alan D. Romberg, Director of the China Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center, delivered speeches consecutively. They maintained that US-China relations have undergone 30 years of ups and downs, with great advancement, diminishing divergences and a broad outlook for cooperation. They said that the bilateral economic and trade relationship has expanded continuously, urging the two sides to jointly work on and appropriately address the issues emerging in bilateral trade. They also expressed their understanding to China's current policy concerning exchange rate of RMB, and offered their respective proposals on further improving the mechanism of RMB exchange rate. On the Taiwan question, some experts said that the US government should further make clear their position against "Taiwan Independence". They also noted that China and US should strengthen contacts and work together for the stability of the Asian-Pacific region.

Wen expounded the active attitude of the Chinese government on developing China-US constructive relations of cooperation. He stressed that a fundamental conclusion could be drawn after summarizing the history of half-century long China-US relations, i.e., both sides can gain from harmony while lose from disputes, and to continuously expand and deepen China-US relations has already become the consensus of both countries. He said that the Chinese side would like to join hands with US to establish new consultation mechanism, appropriately handle frictions and disagreements, to open up new situation of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Wen also briefed them on the current cross-Straits relations and reiterated that the Chinese government would adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification, one country and two systems", and would never tolerate any schemes of any people to split Taiwan from the motherland. Wen also noted that China would further improve the forming mechanism of the exchange rate of RMB during the process of pushing forward the reform on financial system.

Wen also held informal discussions with the representatives of Chinese living and studying in East US. The representatives of overseas Chinese, Taiwan compatriots, the industrial and commercial circle, overseas Chinese students, and Chinese-holding agencies delivered speeches in a consecutive manner. They spoke out their suggestions on various endeavours in the country building, the development of China-US relations, the promotion of cross-Straits exchanges and the combat against the separatist activities by the "Taiwan Independence" forces. With strong emotions, Wen said to them that the motherland misses them, the daughters and sons overseas, and is quite aware of the toil and efforts they have given in order to survive and realize self-development. He said that the motherland is developing continuously, and people all over the country are marching toward prosperity with full confidence despite difficulties ahead of them. He said that the motherland aspires for peace, sticks to remaining partners and friends with neighbours and is willing to get well along with every country to jointly foster a peaceful international environment. He noted that the motherland wants reunification, the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao washed off one hundred-year-long shame of the Chinese nation with the only question of Taiwan yet to be solved. Chanting "the shallow Taiwan Straits brings about the biggest sadness and deepest nostalgia", Wen said that China sticks to peaceful reunification and one country, two systems, and as long as there is a glimmer of hope, China would try its best to work out a peaceful reunification. He stressed that to maintain national reunification is the supreme interests of a nation, and China would never allow any one to split Taiwan from the motherland.

Wen's speech aroused warm applause from the 600-odd representatives present.

Premier Wen Jiabao Meets Famous US Experts and Scholars and Holds Informal Discussions with Representatives of Chinese Living in East US

On the evening of December 7, 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao met with famous experts and scholars of the United States at the hotel he stayed, during which they had an in-depth exchange of views on China-US economic relations and trade, the exchange rate of RMB and cross-strait relations.

Fred Bergsten, Director of the Institute of International Economics, Richard Haass, President of the Council on Foreign Relations, David Lampton, Director of Chinese Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies,Stephen Roach, Morgan Stanley Executive Chairperson, and Alan D. Romberg, Director of the China Program at the Henry L. Stimson Center, delivered speeches consecutively. They maintained that US-China relations have undergone 30 years of ups and downs, with great advancement, diminishing divergences and a broad outlook for cooperation. They said that the bilateral economic and trade relationship has expanded continuously, urging the two sides to jointly work on and appropriately address the issues emerging in bilateral trade. They also expressed their understanding to China's current policy concerning exchange rate of RMB, and offered their respective proposals on further improving the mechanism of RMB exchange rate. On the Taiwan question, some experts said that the US government should further make clear their position against "Taiwan Independence". They also noted that China and US should strengthen contacts and work together for the stability of the Asian-Pacific region.

Wen expounded the active attitude of the Chinese government on developing China-US constructive relations of cooperation. He stressed that a fundamental conclusion could be drawn after summarizing the history of half-century long China-US relations, i.e., both sides can gain from harmony while lose from disputes, and to continuously expand and deepen China-US relations has already become the consensus of both countries. He said that the Chinese side would like to join hands with US to establish new consultation mechanism, appropriately handle frictions and disagreements, to open up new situation of bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Wen also briefed them on the current cross-Straits relations and reiterated that the Chinese government would adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification, one country and two systems", and would never tolerate any schemes of any people to split Taiwan from the motherland. Wen also noted that China would further improve the forming mechanism of the exchange rate of RMB during the process of pushing forward the reform on financial system.

Wen also held informal discussions with the representatives of Chinese living and studying in East US. The representatives of overseas Chinese, Taiwan compatriots, the industrial and commercial circle, overseas Chinese students, and Chinese-holding agencies delivered speeches in a consecutive manner. They spoke out their suggestions on various endeavours in the country building, the development of China-US relations, the promotion of cross-Straits exchanges and the combat against the separatist activities by the "Taiwan Independence" forces. With strong emotions, Wen said to them that the motherland misses them, the daughters and sons overseas, and is quite aware of the toil and efforts they have given in order to survive and realize self-development. He said that the motherland is developing continuously, and people all over the country are marching toward prosperity with full confidence despite difficulties ahead of them. He said that the motherland aspires for peace, sticks to remaining partners and friends with neighbours and is willing to get well along with every country to jointly foster a peaceful international environment. He noted that the motherland wants reunification, the smooth return of Hong Kong and Macao washed off one hundred-year-long shame of the Chinese nation with the only question of Taiwan yet to be solved. Chanting "the shallow Taiwan Straits brings about the biggest sadness and deepest nostalgia", Wen said that China sticks to peaceful reunification and one country, two systems, and as long as there is a glimmer of hope, China would try its best to work out a peaceful reunification. He stressed that to maintain national reunification is the supreme interests of a nation, and China would never allow any one to split Taiwan from the motherland.