Bush: U.S.-China relations "good" and "important"

U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday that U.S.-China relations are good and important, and he is "honored" to be invited to attend the Beijing Olympics.

"The fact that both countries are honoring the 30th anniversary of the relationship is a statement about good relations," he told reporters from China, South Korea and Thailand at the White House ahead of his upcoming trip to the three countries.

Also, the fact that both China and the United States are opening new embassies in each other's capitals is "a signal of how important the relationship is," Bush added.

Bush said that during his stay in Beijing, he would attend the opening ceremony of the new U.S. embassy, together with his father, former U.S. President George H. W. Bush.

"Isn't that interesting, two new embassies open the same year, obviously to celebrate the 30th anniversary of what has been a very important relationship," he said.

In retrospect of the development of U.S.-China relationship during his presidency, the president said two things are most important.

One is that he and the Chinese leaders have forged a good personal relationship featured by "sincerity and honesty," as they have met many times during Bush's tenure.

Secondly, the two nations have worked hard to put strategic economic dialogues in place in a bid to broaden and enhance bilateral relations.

To some extent, the president said, China and the United States have become increasingly interdependent as their relationship is becoming more and more interwoven, particularly in the economic field.

He said whoever follows him as the president will continue the policy of "active engagement" (with China) with a constant reminder of the belief in human freedom and liberty.

"And it's an opportunity for our two countries ... to be able to work through common problems and to seize common opportunities," he added.

Moreover, Bush said he has always been committed to broadening defense cooperation and exchanges between China and the United States.

The president believed it was very important for U.S. generals, especially younger U.S. officers, to conduct exchanges and make more contacts with their Chinese counterparts so as to create a feeling of trust.

Asked about how he viewed the changes happening with India and China growing stronger, Bush said he believed the emergence of India and China is a positive thing.

"I view the emergence of India and China as positives and I think it's going to be very important for the United States to stay engaged," he said.

"They will provide great opportunities for development of services and goods that people in our big markets want," he said.

"It provides great opportunities for capital flows which is necessary for economic development. It will provide opportunities to work collaboratively on strong strategic areas, security areas ... as well as on the environment," the president added.

While talking about Taiwan, Bush said it is "a very sensitive issue" for the Chinese government.

People who study this very closely will see that the issue is "in a better place," Bush said.

"I made it abundantly clear that there were some red lines for the United States on this issue, that there would be no unilateral declaration of independence," the president said.

"Our policy was still the same. It's very important for the president to be very consistent," he added.

Bush said he himself was very pleased with the state of (cross-Straits) relations now.

As for the upcoming Beijing Olympics, the president said the message of his visit to China and to attend the Beijing Olympics is "that I personally and America respect the Chinese people -- respect your history, respect your tradition, and I'm honored to have been invited to the Games."

"And I made a decision not to politicize the Games; this is for athletics," he said.

Earlier this month, the White House has confirmed that Bush will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

The president, a sports fan himself, said he will also watch some events during the Games, including the men's basketball game between China and the United States.

"I'm sure we will walk around the different venue sites and just get a sense for the whole atmosphere of people from all around the world coming to Beijing to compete in the Olympic Games. That's going to be a proud moment for the Chinese people," he said.

In the end, Bush said he is looking forward to meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing.

He said he and President Hu have "very cordial relations" and "it's important to be able to have those kind of relations."

"I'm very comfortable in his presence, and we will talk about the kinds of issues we always talk about," Bush said.

Bush is scheduled to leave for a three-nation Asia tour on Aug.4. He will visit South Korea and Thailand before going to China on Aug. 7, where he will attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 8.

即将对亚洲进行访问的美国总统布什３０日在此间接受中国、韩国和泰国三国记者联合采访时高度评价中美关系，并表示对前往北京观摩奥运会充满期待。
布什表示，在他的任内，美中两国领导人建立了坦诚的工作关系，两国对话和互信不断加强，双方不仅能妥善处理彼此的分歧，而且推动双方在各领域的合作不断深化，“双边关系正以良好的、稳固的方式向前发展”。

布什总统强调，将来无论谁接替他出任美国总统，美国都会继续奉行“积极接触”的对华政策。

布什说，美中关系经历了演变发展，两国不久将庆祝建交３０周年。而两国庆祝建交３０周年的事实本身就显示出，两国关系良好。他说，两国今年都在对方首都启用使馆新馆。２９日晚，美国政府高级官员出席了中国驻美使馆新馆开馆仪式。他在北京期间，将与其父亲、美国前总统布什一起出席美国驻华使馆新馆开馆仪式，这本身就彰显了两国关系的重要性。

布什说，他在任内与中国领导人多次会见，建立了“非常真诚、坦率”的关系，什么问题都可以谈。在其任职期间，美中开展了战略性对话以扩大和加强双边关系。美中关系日趋交织，经济关系尤其错综复杂，在某种程度上已经相互依赖。

布什说，他一直致力于扩大美中两国的防务合作和交流。他说：“我认为让我们的将军与他们的中国同行打交道很重要。更重要的或同等重要的是，我们应当让年轻的中国军官与年轻的美国军官交往，以建立互信。”

在谈到台湾问题时，布什表示，他本人对两岸关系出现改善感到高兴。他说：“我多次明确指出，美国在这一问题上设有红线，就是（台湾）不能单方面宣布独立，我们的这一政策依然没变。总统（在台湾问题上）保持态度一贯非常重要。”

谈到北京奥运会，布什说：“我个人和美国尊重中国人民，尊重你们的历史，尊重你们的传统；应邀参加奥运会，我很荣幸。”他说，他出席北京奥运会，对中国人民表示尊重，将会增加两国的信任，这样双方可把握共同的机遇并应对共同的问题。

布什说，良好的比赛应该是非常健康的；北京奥运会的比赛将会是健康的，因而也必然会有很强的观赏性。他说，去观看奥运会将是“一件真正愉快的事”。

布什将于８月４日启程前往韩国开始其亚洲三国之行。在结束对韩国和泰国的访问之后，他将于７日从泰国飞往中国，并于８日出席北京奥运会开幕式。