Cheney: US, China share more in common
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-04-15 15:20

The United States and China share more in common than differences and both peoples are benefiting from bilateral cooperation, said US Vice President Dick Cheney in Shanghai Thursday.

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at Fudan University in Shanghai April 15, 2004. The United States does not support Taiwan independence, Cheney told Chinese college students in Shanghai on Thursday, re-stating a longstanding U.S. position. [Reuters]

Cheney made the remark when asked to comment on "China threat" during his speech session at Fudan University in Shanghai. Cheney said the United States and China were once enemies in the Korean War half a century ago, and regarded each other as a threat. But things have changed.

The Americans have been impressed by China's achievements in the past few decades. The two countries share common interests and both peoples will benefit from cooperation, especially in the economic field, he said.

On Taiwan issue,he reaffirmed that the United States supports the one-China policy, and said the policy that the United States holds on Taiwan is consistent

"Just as the US President Bush said, the United States supports one-China policy, based on the three US-China joint communiques." He said one important thing is that discussions and dialogues should be held between Beijing and Taiwan and the United States opposes any unilateral actions to change the status quo.

In response to a student's question on nuclear issues in the Korean Peninsula, the vice president said a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula entails the nodding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the complete,verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear facilities. The US side hopes the parties should work together to persuade the DPRK to reach the goal.

He said the United States was"encouraged" by China's leading role in the field.

Cheney said curbing the spread of weapons of mass destruction is of great urgency in the new century and the US side has no choice but persist.

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney speaks at Fudan University in Shanghai April 15, 2004. [Reuters]

On the Iraq issue, he said the United States is willing to work closely with the United Nations on the Iraqi reconstruction, and expects Iraq to draw up a constitution and hold the general election at an early date.

He said Lakhdar Brahimi, the special envoy of the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has already arrived in Iraq, and is keeping extensive contacts with the coalition forces and the Iraqi representatives on establishing an interim government which will take over the political power as from June 30.

Cheney said the interim government will be responsible for governing the state till Iraq holds the general election next year.

He said Brahimi has actively participated in the work of making up plans for the interim government as the UN representative. The United States expects the UN to play an advisory and guiding role in the Iraqi reconstruction work.

US Vice President Dick Cheney concluded his three-day working visit to China Thursday afternoon and left Shanghai for Seoul.

Cheney arrived in Beijing Tuesday afternoon as guest of his Chinese counterpart Zeng Qinghong.

During his stay in Beijing, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Chairman of the Central Military Commission Jiang Zemin and Premier Wen Jiabaomet with him respectively on Wednesday.

China is the second leg of Cheney's week-long Asian tour, which also includes Japan and the Republic of Korea. This is Cheney's first visit to China as US vice president.

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