On April 14, 2004, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council met with Vice President Dick Cheney of the United States at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai.

Wen Jiabao said that taken as a whole China-US relations have been developing continuously since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries despite the ups and downs over the past two and a half decades. Last December when President Bush met with me, he stated explicitly that he is opposed to "Taiwan independence" and to any words or actions that are crafted to change the status quo of Taiwan. China appreciates that stance. The position of the Chinese government on the Taiwan issue is consistent and clear, which is "one country, two systems". China will make every effort to resolve the Taiwan issue peacefully but will never tolerate "Taiwan independence". I have reached consensus with President Bush during our meeting on five aspects, which have exerted positive influence on the stabilization and expansion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. China is willing to further enhance political mutual trust as well as economic and trade cooperation with the US. At the same time, China hopes that the US will adhere strictly to its commitments on the Taiwan issue, refrain from sending any erroneous message to Taiwan, accord the status of full market economy to China as early as possible and decrease restrictions on export of high-tech products to China.

Wen noted that China and the US share many common interests and developing China-US relations is compliant with the fundamental interests of both peoples and conducive to world peace and development. China and the US should view their relations in a long-term and strategic perspective to deepen mutual understanding, expand mutual trust, seek common grounds while putting aside differences and expand cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit.

Cheney expressed satisfaction with the overall development of US-China relations. He said China has currently become the third largest trade partner of the US and the importance of their economies to each other has been ever increasing. To further expand the mutually beneficial cooperation conforms to the common interests of both peoples and will surely benefit the whole world. The US is willing to work together with China to resolve problems existing in bilateral economic and trade relations.