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October 29, 1997
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China-US Joint Statement
China and the United States issued a joint
statement in Washington on October 29, 1997, following the talks between
visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin and President Bill Clinton. Full
text of the joint statement reads as follows:
At the invitation of President William J. Clinton of the United States
of America, President Jiang Zemin of the People's Republic of China is
paying a state visit to the United States from October 26 to November
3, 1997. This is the first state visit by the President of China to the
United States in 12 years. President Jiang held formal talks with President
Clinton in Washington D.C., and also met with Vice-President Al Gore,
Congressional leaders and other American leaders. Talks also were held
between Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen and Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright.
The two Presidents had an in-depth and productive exchange of views on
the international situation, China-U.S. relations and the important opportunities
and challenges facing the two countries. They agree that a sound and stable
relationship between China and the United States serves the fundamental
interests of both the Chinese and American peoples and is important to
fulfilling their common responsibility to work for peace and prosperity
in the 21st century.
They agree that while China and the United States have areas of both agreement
and disagreement, they have a significant common interest and a firm common
will to seize opportunities and meet challenges cooperatively, with candor
and a determination to achieve concrete progress. China and the United
States have major differences on the question of human rights. At the
same time, they also have great potential for cooperation in maintaining
global and regional peace and stability; promoting world economic growth;
preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; advancing
Asia-Pacific regional cooperation; combating narcotics trafficking, international
organized crime and terrorism; strengthening bilateral exchanges and cooperation
in economic development, trade, law environmental protection, energy,
science and technology, and education and culture; as well as engaging
in military exchanges.
The two Presidents are determined to build toward a constructive strategic
partnership between China and the United States through increasing cooperation
to meet international
challenges and promote peace and development in the world. To achieve
this goal, they agree to approach China-U.S. relations from a long-term
perspective on the basis of the principles of the three China-U.S. joint
communiques.
China stresses that the Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive
central question in China-U.S. relations, and that the proper handling
of this question in strict compliance with the principles set forth in
the three China-U.S. joint communiques hold the key to sound and stable
growth of China-U.S. relations. The United States reiterates that it adheres
to its "one China" policy and the principles set forth in the three China-U.S.
joint communiques.
As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and
the United States support the UN in its efforts, in accordance with the
purposes and principles of the UN Charter, to play a positive and effective
role on global issues, including peacekeeping and the promotion of economic
and social development. Both countries support efforts to reform the UN
and to make the Security Council more representative, while retaining
and
improving its effectiveness. Stressing the need to put the UN on a firmer
financial basis, both countries will participate actively in discussions
on the Scale of Assessments in the UN.
As two major countries in the Asia-Pacific region, China and the United
States are ready to strengthen their cooperation to meet various challenges
and make positive contributions to promoting stability and prosperity
in the region. Recognizing that maintenance of peace and stability on
the Korean Peninsula is of great importance, the two countries are working
through the Four-Party Talks to help establish a durable peace on the
Peninsula, and will continue consultations to this end. They also stress
that it is in the interest of the two countries to maintain peace and
stability in other important regions, including the Middle East, the Gulf,
and South Asia.
The two President agreed on a number of steps that will provide a framework
for further promoting China-U.S. relations and strengthening their cooperation
in international affairs.
High-level Dialogue and Consultations
China and the United States agree to regular visits by their Presidents
to each other's capitals.
They agree to a Beijing-Washington presidential communications link to
facilitate contact.
They also agree to regular exchanges of visits by cabinet and sub-cabinet
officials to consult on political, military, security and arms control
issues.
Energy and Environment Cooperation
China and the United States reaffirm the importance of bilateral cooperation
across the broad range of environmental issues, as evidenced by the establishment
of the China-U.S. Forum on Environment and Development in March 1997.
They consider it a critical challenge to develop and efficiently use energy
sources, protect the global environment, and promote environmentally sound
growth and development. Accordingly, they agree to strengthen their cooperation
in energy and environment through an initiative to accelerate clean energy
projects and the appropriate transfer of related technologies. The principal
areas of cooperation will be in clean energy, urban air
pollution control and rural electrification. This initiative also will
foster broader cooperation on global environment issues such as climate
change, desertification and bio-diversity. China's State Planning Commission
and the U.S. Energy Department have signed the China-U.S. initiative on
Energy and Environment Cooperation to promote effective cooperation in
these fields, including the use of clear energy.
Economic Relations and Trade
The two presidents are prepared to take positive and effective measures
to expand China-U.S. trade and economic ties. As both economies move into
the 21st century, information technology will be critical to spurring
technological innovation and improving productivity. In this regard, China
indicated its intention to participate as soon as possible in the Information
Technology Agreement. In addition, in the context of WTO negotiations,
China will continue to make further substantial tariff reduction. China
and the United States agree that China's full participation in the multilateral
trading system is in their mutual interest. To this end, they agree to
intensify negotiations on market access, including tariffs, non-tariff
measures, services, standards and agriculture and on implementation of
WTO principles so that China can accede to the WTO on a commercially meaningful
basis at the earliest possible date.
Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation
China and the United States agree that it is in their mutual interest
to cooperate in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. To this end, they
each have taken the steps necessary to implement the China-U.S. Agreement
on Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation concluded in 1985. In addition, China's
State Planning Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy have
signed an Agreement of Intent to promote peaceful nuclear cooperation
and research between the two countries.
Nonproliferation
China and the United States agree to work to bring the comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty into force at the earliest possible date. They also agree to
pursue at the U.N. Conference on Disarmament the early start of formal
negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Production of Fissile
Materials Used in Nuclear Weapons and Other Nuclear Explosives Devices.
China and the United States reiterate their commitment not to provide
any assistance to unsafeguarded nuclear facilities and nuclear explosion
programs. China has placed controls on exports of nuclear and dual-use
materials and related technology and will take further measures to strengthen
dual-use export controls by mid-1998. The United States will continue
to enforce firm controls on the export of nuclear and dual-use materials
and related technology. As original parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention,
China and the United States agree to cooperate in implementing the Convention
within a multilateral framework. Both countries agree on the importance
of government oversight of chemical-related exports. China and the United
States agree to build on the 1994 Joint Statement on Missile Nonproliferation.
They reaffirm their respective commitments to the guidelines and parameters
of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
Human Rights
China and the United States both recognize the positive role of the Universal
Declaration on Human Rights and other international human rights instruments
in promoting human rights. They reiterate their commitment to the promotion
and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
While the two countries have not resolved their differences on human rights,
they have agreed to discuss them through dialogue at both governmental
and non-governmental levels in the spirit of equality and mutual respect.
The two countries agree to hold discussions on the structure and functions
of an NGO forum on human rights.
Cooperation in the Field of Law
China and the United States agree that promoting cooperation in the field
of law serves the interests and needs of both countries.
They will strengthen cooperation in combating international organized
crime, narcotics trafficking, alien smuggling, counterfeiting and money
laundering. To this end, they intend to establish a joint liaison group
for law enforcement cooperation composed of representatives of the relevant
agencies of both governments. They agree to begin consultations on mutual
legal assistance aimed at concluding a mutual legal assistance agreement.
China and the United States will assign counter-narcotics officers to
their respective embassies on a reciprocal basis.
Recognizing the importance China and the United States each attaches to
legal exchanges, they intend to establish a joint liaison group to pursue
cooperative activities in this area. These may include exchanges of legal
experts; training of judges and lawyers; strengthening legal information
systems and the exchange of legal materials; sharing ideas about legal
assistance; consulting on administrative procedures; and strengthening
commercial law and arbitration.
As part of this program of legal cooperation, China's minister of justice
will visit the United States in November 1997 at the invitation of the
U.S. Attorney General.
Military-to-Military Relations
China and the United States have reached agreement on the establishment
of a consultation mechanism to strengthen military maritime safety, which
will enable their maritime and air forces to avoid accidents, misunderstandings
or miscalculations.
They agree to share information and discuss issues related to their respective
experiences in the areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
Science and Technology, Education and Cultural Exchanges
The China-U.S. Joint Commission on Science and Technology will continue
to guide the active bilateral scientific and technological cooperation
program, which involves more than 30 agreements reached since 1979, and
will promote the further use of science and technology to solve national
and global problems. China and the United States also will identify areas
for cooperative projects using space for earth science research and practical
applications.
China and the United States will expand educational and cultural exchanges.
Both Presidents believe that increased people-people exchanges will help
cultivate long-term bilateral relations.
President Jiang Zemin expressed his thanks to President Clinton and the
American people for their warm reception and invited President Clinton
to visit China in 1998. President Clinton accepted this invitation with
pleasure.
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