China hopes the United States would strictly abide by its promise and not send any wrong signals to secessionists trying for "Taiwan's independence", China's top legislature said yesterday.

The message emanated from a meeting between the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and a nine-member delegation of the Armed Services Committee of the US House of Representatives.

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The US Congressional delegation, headed by congressman Roscoe Bartlett, was on a four-day goodwill visit to China, a news release from the Standing Committee of the NPC said.

During their stay, the members of the delegation met a series of high-ranking officials, including Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Sheng Huaren.

The Chinese side stressed that to curb "Taiwan independence" and maintain peace and stability across the Straits were of mutual benefit both to China and the United States, the news release said.

The US delegation reiterated the United States would stick to its one-China policy and did not want to see any unrest or crisis across the Taiwan Straits and its surrounding regions, it said.

The news release came a day after Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian reaffirmed his adherence to "independence" in his New Year's address on Monday.

"Taiwan is a part of the world," he said, "It is not a part of China."

The mainland has condemned Chen's remarks.

On the same day, President Hu Jintao said in a New Year message that the Chinese mainland will actively promote exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, safeguard peace and stability, and push ahead with peaceful reunification.

He urged the Chinese people around the world to join hands to oppose "Taiwan's independence" and work for the ultimate reunification of the Chinese nation.

Hu said the mainland would not change its Taiwan policy of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems".

The president said the mainland would adhere to the one-China principle strictly, continue efforts to seek peaceful reunification, always place its hopes on the Taiwan people and never compromise in the struggle against "Taiwan independence".

China Daily-Xinhua