On December 9, 2003, Premier Wen Jiabao, who is paying an official visit to the United States, held talks with the US President Bush. The two sides exchanged in-depth views on China-US relations and on regional and international issues of common concern.

The White House South Lawn witnessed waving national flags of China and US in the air of near-year-end Washington. At 9:50 am, the motorcade of Premier Wen Jiabao arrived at the White House, welcomed by waiting President Bush and the First Lady Laura. Both sides exchanged greetings. President Bush introduced Vice President Richard Bruce Cheney and other US officials to Premier Wen, and accompanied him to mount the dais to inspect the Guards of Honor, while the military band playing the national anthems of the two countries and a solute of 19 guns reverberating above the White House. After the inspection, the two leaders made some remarks respectively. Describing China as a great civilization, a great power, and a great nation, he said that US is expecting to furthering cooperation with China to address challenges of times. He also expressed his brief that Premier Wen's visit to US would promote the development of the bilateral relations. In his address, Premier Wen pointed out that both sides are at a crucial juncture of carrying their relationship into the future where they face both opportunities and challenges. The changing situation has continued to add new substance to the China-US relations. The fundamental interests of the two peoples and the people across the world require that China and US step up cooperation, increase mutual trust, and further push forward the constructive and cooperative bilateral relations. Wen urged the two sides to view and handle China-U.S. relations from a historical height, and with strategic foresight and courage. The three Sino-U.S. communiqu閟 drawn up by our two sides set the guiding principles for appropriately addressing differences between the two countries, and continuing to broaden bilateral exchanges and cooperation. So long as the two sides continue to strictly abide by the principles as set forth in the three Sino-U.S. joint communiqu閟, and boost cooperation, China-US relationship will keep moving forward steadily. The remarks of Bush and Wen drew loud applauses from the people attending the ceremony on the South Lawn.

In the following talks between the two leaders, Wen noted that President Jiang Zemin and President Bush set the objective of developing China-US constructive and cooperative relations in Shanghai in October, 2001. I am expecting to jointly push forward the China-US relations in a sound and stable approach, and that's why it is with frank, cooperative and constructive attitude I pay this visit. Bush said that it is extremely important for US and China to strengthen their cooperation and he hoped bilateral constructive and cooperative relations could keep going on.

On the Taiwan question, Wen indicated that the basic principle of China is "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems", and China would try its best with its utmost sincerity to achieve the peaceful reunification of the motherland. The Chinese government respects the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy, but we must point out that the attempts of Taiwan authorities, headed by Chen Shui-bian, are only using democracy as an excuse and attempt to resort to defensive referendum to break Taiwan away from China. To maintain peace and stability of the Straits is in the interests of peoples on both sides of the Straits. Only when we strongly and unswervingly oppose the "Taiwan Independence" can we maintain peace and stability of the Straits. As long as there is a glimpse of hope, we would never forsake our efforts to maintain peace. Bush noted that the US side understands the concern of the Chinese side, the US government sticks to the One China policy, observes the three US-China communiqu閟 and is against Taiwan independence, which will not change. He also mentioned the recent statements and proposals coming out of Taiwan that imply a desire to change the status quo, saying it is quite upsetting and the US opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo.

On the Democratic People's Republic of Korean (DPRK) nuclear issue, Bush extended his thanks to Wen for China's efforts to deliver the six-party talks on the nuclear issue, and said that US is willing to carry on cooperation with related parties to seek for a peaceful solution. Wen noted that China advocates for a nuclear-free Peninsula and a peaceful solution of the DPRK nuclear issue with diplomatic means, to maintain peace and stability of the Peninsula. At the same time, DPRK's reasonable concern on security should also be addressed. The Chinese side will continue to step up cooperation with related parties to promote the process of the Six-way talks.

The two leaders agreed that China-US economic and trade cooperation can bring about tremendous benefits for both peoples. It is simply natural to have some problems, which we should address appropriately. Wen noted that the following five principles are of importance to ensure a sustainable and sound development of China-US economic and trade relations. First, strengthen cooperation, and achieve mutual benefit and a win-win position. Second, attach paramount importance to development, and solve the trade deficit through continuous consolidation of economic and trade cooperation. China hopes US would lift restriction on exporting to China. Third, establish and improve economic and trade coordination mechanism. Fourth, solve problems through consultation on an equal footing, instead of imposing restriction at will. Fifth, don't politicize economic and trade issues. Bush echoed Wen on these principles. He said that China has an eye-catching fast economic growth rate and the powerful development of China-US economic and trade relations is in the fundamental interests of both sides. The two leaders agreed to upgrade the level of the China -US Joint Committee on Commerce and Trade, with Vice Premier Wu Yi the Chairman from the Chinese side, and US Commerce Department Secretary Don Evans and Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick as co-chairmen from the US side, and the Committee will hold a meeting next spring. 

As a response to Bush's question, Wen introduced RMB exchange rate mechanism and property right protection in China.

The two leaders jointly met with correspondents after they ended their talks. They highly evaluated the progress of China-US relations, fully affirmed that the talks produced fruitful results, noted both sides share a broad scope of interests in various fields, and would beef up mutually-beneficial cooperation between the two countries. They also took up questions of the correspondents. Asked whether US prefers Taiwan to cancel the "defensive referendum" planned to happen next March, Bush noted that the words and deeds of the Taiwan authorities have shown their tendency towards making decisions that will unilaterally change the status quo, which US is against.