Patience 'key to resolving' nuclear issues

CHINA / China

Patience 'key to resolving' nuclear issues

By Sun Shangwu (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-11-20 05:07

HANOI: President Hu Jintao said yesterday that "wisdom and patience" are
needed to find solutions to the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

He made the remarks during 75 minutes of talks with US President George
W. Bush on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)
forum, which concluded yesterday.

Hu expressed keenness to work with all parties, including the United
States, for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks at an early date.

"We should insist on peaceful dialogue to find practical solutions with
wisdom and patience to achieve the denuclearization of the peninsula at
an early date," Hu said.

He urged all parties to honour the commitments made in a joint statement
in September last year.

In the statement, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
committed to abandoning all nuclear weapons and nuclear programmes, while
the US affirmed that it has no nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula
and has no intention of attacking or invading the DPRK.

But follow-up discussions last November failed to make any progress on
implementing the deal and the six-nation talks have been stalled since
then.

Pyongyang drew international outcry by conducting a nuclear test on
October 9.

Bush said that China and the United States realize that working together
can accomplish a lot for global security.

"China is a very important nation and the United States believes strongly
that by working together we can help solve problems such as with North
Korea (the DPRK) and Iran," the US president said.

Wang Yusheng, a senior diplomatic researcher, said there have been a
series of strategic dialogue meetings between China and the United States
this year on political and economic issues.

"The increasing consensus reached through high-level exchanges is
bringing about more co-operation in areas of common concern," Wang said.

This year, Hu and Bush have met three times, had four telephone
conversations and maintained an exchange of letters.

"It is fair to say that we have kept in very close touch and promoted
China-US relations," said Hu.

On the Iranian nuclear issue, Hu urged all parties to "be patient and
calm" and engage in a dialogue with Teheran to find an effective solution.

Bush said the United Nations Security Council should adopt a resolute and
rational attitude towards the Iranian nuclear issue.

On the Taiwan question, Hu urged the US to handle it properly by keeping
commitments it made and not sending wrong signals to Taiwan
"independence" secessionist forces so as to safeguard Sino-US strategic
interests.

Bush said that his country understands the sensitivity of the question as
well as its impact on Sino-US relations. The US Government's policy on
Taiwan remained unchanged, he pledged.

Economic dialogue

China and US will hold their first strategic economic dialogue next
month, according to Hu.

Vice-Premier Wu Yi and US Secretary of Treasury Henry M. Paulson will
lead the delegations.

Hu noted that bilateral trade has expanded rapidly. According to US
figures, US exports to China in the first seven months of this year rose
35 per cent. Bilateral trade reached US$211.63 billion last year, up 24.8
per cent over the previous year. China enjoyed a surplus of US$114.17
billion last year.

Bush admitted there are some problems in bilateral trade. "Nevertheless,
we both adopt a spirit of mutual respect and the desire to work through
our problems for the common good of our peoples."

Hu also called for increasing co-operation in the Asia-Pacific region to
maintain peace, stability and prosperity. The two sides should expand
exchanges in such sectors as anti-terrorism, non-proliferation, defence
and energy, he said.

Qin Jize in Beijing contributed to the story

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