On November 20, 2005, Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush met with Chinese and international journalists following their talks.

Hu said, "First of all, I would like to extend my warm welcome to President Bush upon his visit.

I had friendly and frank talks with President Bush a moment ago. We exchanged in-depth views on China-US relations as well as important international and regional issues. Both of us believe it is the call of the times and the common aspiration of the people in both countries to maintain continuous, sound and stable development. We need to enhance understanding, expand consensus and deepen mutual trust so as to boost China-US constructive cooperative relations in the 21st century in an all-round manner.

Both of us think it is in the common interest of both countries and peoples to expand bilateral economic and trade cooperation. We will stick to the principle of equality, reciprocity and common development and continuously expand cooperation areas so as to achieve mutual benefits and create a win-win situation. The frictions and disputes arising from the economic and trade relations shall be settled appropriately through consultation.

I promised to President Bush that China would enhance protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), strengthen the fight against crimes involving IPR infringement and intensify our cooperation with the United States in this area. We will continue to firmly push forward the reform over the formulation mechanism of the exchange rate of RMB in a bid to benefit both China and the rest of the world.

Both of us indicated our willingness to deepen cooperation in counter terrorism on the basis of reciprocity. The two countries have planned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on super-large ports.

Both of us agree to expand China-US exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, science and technology as well as the youth.

Both of us believe the spread of bird flu and its transmission to human beings are a common threat to all countries. We have reached an agreement on the joint initiative of enhancing bilateral cooperation on the prevention and control of the epidemic and will jointly support and participate in global efforts in this area.

I reiterated to President Bush that the Chinese government and people are committed to maintaining peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits and would like to strive for the prospect of the peaceful reunification of the nation with the utmost sincerity and efforts. However, we will never tolerate "Taiwan independence". I highly appreciate President Bush's repeated indication of sticking to the one-China policy, abiding by the three Sino-US Joint Communiqués and opposing "Taiwan independence". It is in the common interest of both China and the United States to oppose and contain "Taiwan independence" and maintain peace and stability of the Taiwan Straits.

Both of us believe China and the United States share broad common interests and important common responsibilities on key issues including the reform of the United Nations, the issue of development, the promotion of the Doha round of negotiations, the solution of regional hot spots, the prevention of and response to terrorism, the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the prevention of natural disasters and the control of epidemics.

Both of us deemed that important results have been achieved in the fourth round of six-party talks and the overall atmosphere of the first phase of the fifth round is earnest and pragmatic. The two sides will continue to push forward the process of six-party talks with the other four parties so as to ensure an early settlement of the Korean Peninsula Nuclear Issue.

I also shared with President Bush our efforts in firmly sticking to the path of peaceful development and in promoting democratic politics and human rights. It is an inevitable choice for us to firmly stick to the path of peaceful development as a result of our national realities, our historical and cultural tradition as well as the development trend of today's world. China's development will be based on peace, opening up and cooperation. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China and in particular, since the adoption of the reform and opening up policy, historic progress has been scored in China's efforts of promoting democratic politics and human rights. The Chinese people are enjoying democratic election, decision-making, administration and supervision. In the future, we will continue to proceed from the realities of China to promote democratic politics with Chinese characteristics and human rights according to the will of the Chinese people.

Cooperation for mutual benefits remains the mainstream of China-US relations. Due to different histories, cultures and national realities, it is natural for the two countries to have different views on some issues. The two sides need to handle and settle their differences approximately through dialogue in the principle of mutual respect and seeking common grounds while shelving differences as well as on the basis of the fundamental norms of international relations.

President Bush invited me to visit the United States and I accepted his invitation with pleasure.

Looking into the future, China would like to work with the United States to further promote China-US relations and the lofty cause of human peace and progress so as to benefit the people in China, the United States and the whole world."

Bush said: " It is a great pleasure for Lora and me to return to China. Thank you very much for your hospitality and the constructive talks with me, Mr. President.

The United States and China are facing with a number of common opportunities and challenges. The two countries are important trade partners. Both of us benefit from a free and just trade system. We will continue to make joint efforts with China to open market and let services and goods come in, and to enhance the protection of IPR. The United States will continue to cooperate with China to realize the commitment China made this July of establishing a market-based monetary policy.

Meanwhile, China's social, political and religious developments are vital. We encourage China to move toward a historic transition for more freedom.

The United States would like to express condolences to the Chinese victims in the terrorist attack in Amman, Jordan. Terrorism represents a common threat to both countries. We welcome China's cooperation in the fight against terrorism.

Both the United States and China are seeking a peaceful and stable Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons. I would like to thank China's leading role in the six-party talks. The fourth round of six-party talks in September adopted the Joint Statement in which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea promised to abandon all its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs. The United States hopes the DPRK can fulfill its promise.

President Hu and I had wonderful talks on energy. China's economy is constantly expanding. Both the United States and China have realized that they must share technologies to continue their economic expansion. We cannot rely solely on oil and we need to diversify energy supplies.

In addition, both countries are making efforts to prevent and control the spread of bird flu. Thank you, Mr. President, for your leading role in this respect. Mr. President delivered a firm statement at the APEC Leaders' Informal Meeting to call on joint efforts to prevent a potential global outbreak of the epidemic.

US-China relations are vital relations and this visit will strengthen the relations.

Mr. President, Lora and I are looking forward to receiving you and your wife in the White House next year."