On the afternoon of March 6, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan gave a press conference during which he answered questions from Chinese and foreign correspondents on issues concerning Chinese foreign policy and international situation.

Q: (Xinhua News Agency) Vice-Premier Qian Qichen will pay an official weeklong visit to the United States starting from March 18. Could you brief us on the specific arrangement and the objectives for the Vice-Premier’s visit? Also his visit represents the first visit of a Chinese leader to the United States following the assumption of the presidency by Mr. Bush. How do you evaluate the direction for China-US relations?
A: At present, there is a lot of interest in the world in the development in the China-US relations. Indeed, this bilateral relationship is in the important time period linking the past to the future. I can tell you that since the new government of the US took office, the top leaders of the two countries have maintained in touch. And both sides adopt a positive attitude on the development of China-US relations and the further advancement of our bilateral exchanges and co-operation in various areas. Vice-Premier Qian Qichen is scheduled the visit to the US upon the invitation of the US government from March 18 to 24. The delegation will mainly stay in Washington and New York. His visit marks the first official meeting between the leaders of the two countries following the coming to office of the new administration of the US. Actually, his visit will present an occasion for extensive and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and a series of important issues concerning the international and regional situations of interest to both sides. The Vice-Premier will also meet with the representatives of various communities and circles in the United States. We believe that the Vice-Premier’s visit to the US will contribute to better mutual understanding of our two countries and will also contribute, on that basis, to maintaining the stability and co-operation in our region and in the world. The two countries have shared interests in quite a number of areas. However, We need also to acknowledge that in the China-US bilateral relations, there also exist a number of issues and differences, some of which are quite outstanding, for instance the Taiwan question. However I believe that as long as the two countries work together, as long as the US side implement the One China policy, and acts in strict accordance with the three China-US joint communiqués, and particularly as long as the US side handles the Taiwan question properly, China-US relations will be able to move forward.