Ladies and Gentlemen,Just now I had official talks with president clinton. The two sides have had an extensive and in-depth exchange of views on china-us relations and the major international and regional issues. The talks were positive, constructive and productice. The successful exchange of visits between the two heads of state of china and the united states marks a new stage of growth for china-us relations. This not only serves the common interests of china and the united states but also will be very important significance to promoting peace, stability and prosperity in asia-pacific and the world at large.

Peace and development are the main theme of contemperary times. In the new historical conditions, the common interests between china and the united states are increasing not decreasing. The foundation for cooperation between the two countries is reinforcing not weakening.

Both sides believe that china and the united ststes, as permanent members of the un security council, should continue to work together to promote peace and security in the world and the asia-pacific in particular, to ease and elliminate all kinds of tensions and to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to strenghten the efforts in protecting the environment, combatting international crime, drug trafficing and international terrorism. Our two sides have agreed to further step up cooperarion and dialogue between the countries on major international issues. China-us relations are improving and growing. The cooperation between the two sides in many areas has made important progess. President clinton and I have decided that china and the united states will not target the strategic nuclear weapons under their respective control at each other. This demonstrates to the entire world that china and the united states are partners not adversaries. I hereby wish to reiterate that since the very first day when china came into possession of nuclear weapons, china has undertaken not to be the first to use nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

President clinton and I have reached a broad range of agreements and consensus on further increasing exchanges and cooperation between china and the united states in all areas in our bilateral relations. We have agreed to take positive steps to promote the growth of the mutually beneficial economic cooperation and trade between china and the united states and to expand the exchanges and the cooperation between the two countries in the energy, environment, scientific, educational, cultural, health, legal and military fields. We have also agreed to enhance the consultations and the cooperation between china and the united states on the issues of disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation and we have issued joint statements on the BWC protocol on the question of the anti-personnel landmines and that of south asia.

The taiwan question is the most important and the most sensitive issue at the core of sino-us relations. We hope that the us side will adhere to the principles set force in the three china-us joint communiques and the joint chian-us statement as well as the relevant commitments it has made in the interests of smooth growth of china-us relations.

The improvement and the growth of china-us relations have not come by easily. It is the result of the concerted efforts of the governments and people of the two countries, so we should all the more treasure this result. As china and the united states have different social systems, ideologies, values and cultural traditions, we have some different views on certain issues. However, this cannot become obstacles in the way of china-us relations. The world is a colorful one. The development path of the countries in the world should be chosen by the people of the countryies concerned.

China and the united states should view and handle the bilateral relations from a long term and strategic prospective. We should promote the growth of china-us relations in the spirit of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, seeking common ground while putting aside differences and develpoing cooperation. I believe that through the concerted efforts of both sides we will make constant progress in the direction of building a constructive strategic partnership between china and the united states oriented towards the 21 century.