US President George W. Bush reiterated opposition to "Taiwan independence" yesterday and called for avoidance of "confrontational and provocative" actions that destroy stability across the Straits.

"We oppose unilateral changes in the status quo in the Taiwan Strait by either side. We urge all parties to avoid confrontational or provocative acts and we believe the future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully," Bush said.

He made the remarks twice yesterday: first in a speech delivered at the welcome ceremony for President Hu Jintao on the White House's South Lawn; and the second in their meeting with the press after their talks.

Hu stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory.

"We will continue to make every effort and endeavour with every sincerity to strive for the prospect of peaceful reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

"We will work with Taiwan compatriots to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," he said in the presence of Bush.

"However, we will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China by any means."

The Chinese president expressed his appreciation for the Bush administration's commitments to upholding the one-China policy, abiding by the three China-US joint communiques and opposing "Taiwan independence."

Bush treated the Chinese leader to full military honours and a 21-gun salute, as national anthems played and a fife-and-drum corps paraded on a bright spring day.

Hu described his meeting with Bush as "pragmatic and constructive."

The two leaders also talked about a wide range of issues, including trade, the value of the renminbi and nuclear standoffs in Iran and the Korean Peninsula.

With nuclear negotiations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) at a standstill, Bush asked for Hu's help.

"I continue to seek President Hu's advice and co-operation and urge his nation to use its considerable influence with North Korea (the DPRK) to make meaningful progress towards a Korean Peninsula that is free of nuclear weapons," Bush said.

Hu urged all parties to make joint efforts for the resumption of the Six-Party Talks.

"The Six-Party Talks have run into some difficulties at the moment. I hope that all parties will be able to display flexibility, work together and create necessary conditions for the early resumption of talks," Hu said.

He said that China would make joint efforts with other countries, including the United States, to build a "long-lasting, peaceful world with common prosperity."

He said China and US have agreed to strengthen exchanges and co-operation in the military, law enforcement, science and technology, culture and education fields as well as the control of bird flu, energy, environmental protection and fight against natural disasters.

On trade, Hu said that the two countries have agreed to push bilateral economic and trade relations for "mutual benefit and win-win results."

Although the two countries have some frictions on bilateral trade, China thinks the problems could be resolved through consultations.

"China adopts the policy of expanding domestic demand and depends on economic growth for the expansion of its domestic market demand. China does not pursue excessive trade surplus with US," said Hu.

He highlighted the importance of bilateral economic co-operation and trade which hit US$211.6 billion last year, saying they serve the interests of the two peoples and are conducive to world peace and development.

Bush said "the United States welcomes the emergence of a China that is peaceful and prosperous, and that supports international institutions."

"As stakeholders in the international system, our two nations share many strategic interests. President Hu and I will discuss how to advance those interests, and how China and the United States can cooperate responsibly with other nations to address common challenges" he said.

China has launched the reform on the exchange rate regime of renminbi, and will continue to improve such a regime, Hu said; and promised to expand market access to allow more US commodities to enter China.

Meanwhile, the US should also create equal opportunities for Chinese enterprises to enter the US market, said Hu.

After meeting the press in the White House Oval Office, the two presidents had resumed their summit meeting at press time.

Agencies contributed to the story

(China Daily 04/21/2006 page1)