On the afternoon of August 4, 2005, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) held talks in the Great Hall of the People with J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Both sides exchanged in-depth views on China-US relations, Taiwan question, parliamentary exchanges and the international and regional issues of common concern in a cordial and frank manner and reached many important consensuses.

Wu positively commented that currently the China-US relations in general enjoy a sound momentum of stable development. He said that the important consensus reached between President Hu Jintao and President Bush on further promoting China-US constructive partnership is being implemented steadily. Both sides have scored progresses of exchanges and cooperation in such fields as economy and trade, anti-terrorism, law enforcement and non-proliferation and maintained close consultations and coordination on the major international and regional issues including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the reform of the UN Security Council.

China and the US do have some differences and problems which need to be addressed carefully, but the two countries share important common interest and extensive cooperation foundation, noted Wu. We expect to work with the US to guide the general direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and push for greater development of bilateral relations through strengthening dialogue, narrowing down and solving differences, building up mutual trust, reinforcing cooperation and expanding common interest.

Wu introduced the current situation across the Taiwan Straits and the active measures taken by the Chinese government to improve and develop the relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and reiterated the principled stance of the Chinese government on the Taiwan question. He indicated China sings praise that President Bush and the US government have on many occasions reaffirmed adherence to the one-China policy, observing the three China-US joint communiqués and opposing "Taiwan independence" and any word or behavior of the Taiwan authority to unilaterally change the position of Taiwan. He expressed hope that the US honors its commitment with tangible actions and the US Congress will do more things beneficial to improving the relations across the Taiwan Straits and China's peaceful reunification and refrain from sending any wrong signal to the separatist force of "Taiwan independence".

Talking about parliamentary exchanges, Wu said that the regular exchange mechanism between the NPC of China and the two houses of the US Congress proceeds steadily and the recent meetings held in Washington and Beijing respectively have achieved positive results and greatly stimulated the healthy and stable growth of China-US relations. The NPC of China is willing to work with the US House of Representatives and Senate to consolidate and improve the regular exchange mechanism, maintain the sound momentum of exchanges of high-level visit and contacts at various levels, further increase mutual understanding, constantly build up political mutual trust, continue broadening the areas of exchanges and cooperation and actively promote the stable progress of China-US relations.

Both sides also briefed each other about their domestic situation. Wu noted that China will adhere to the road of peaceful development for long and unswervingly follow the independent foreign policy of peace. He added that China is a constructive force for peace and prosperity. China means not threat but opportunities either to the US or the world at large. China expects peaceful coexistence and mutually-beneficial cooperation with the US and work together to promote peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and Pacific and the rest of the world as well.

Hastert agreed with Wu's comments on China-US relations and expressed his delight to visit China again and admiration for China's huge achievements. He said that the US-China relations have scored great progress and both sides should make joint efforts to constantly expand the common interest and the foundation of cooperation. Hastert fully recognized the positive development of the exchange mechanism between the US House of Representatives and the NPC of China and indicated hope to constantly strengthen exchanges and dialogue under the framework of the mechanism. He reiterated that the US sticks to the one-China policy and welcomes progress of the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

Vice Chairman and Secretary General Sheng Huaren of the NPC Standing Committee and other officials were present at the meeting. At the invitation of Chairman Wu Bangguo, Hastert and his delegation arrived in Beijing on the morning of August 1.