US President George W. Bush said on Tuesday that the
relationship between
China and the US is "important" and "good."
"We've got an important relationship, and it's a good
relationship," Bush told Xinhua News Agency in a round-table
interview with Asian reporters at the White House before his trip
to Asia.
He said the US and China "do have good cooperation" on trade,
and can also work together in the war on terror, on advancing the
Doha Round multilateral trade talks and in the areas of energy and
fighting avian flu.
"There is a variety of ways that we can continue to advance an
agenda that is based upon peace," Bush added.
Bush also said that while the two countries have got increasing
trade and dialogue and cooperation, there is still work to be done
on intellectual property rights, currency and market access.
"So ours is a complex and important relationship," he said,
adding that he looks forward to discussing "these very vital
issues" with President Hu Jintao
during his upcoming trip to China.
Mentioning his meeting with Hu in New York in September, Bush
said: "I appreciate the president's strong statement on
intellectual property rights."
Expressing his appreciation for China's position on currency, he
said China's revaluation of its currency is the "beginnings of a
market-based currency. And that was a strong step forward."
On the issue of avian flu, Bush said if it happens anywhere,
China and the US, Japan and South Korea, ASEAN countries, or APEC
countries, "everyone is going to have to work together to identify,
contain, respond to an outbreak."
Bush will make his third visit to China on November 19, a trip
that will also take him to Japan, South Korea and Mongolia. He will
also attend the 13th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Busan, South
Korea.
He said US relations with Japan, South Korea, China and Mongolia
are excellent. "We don't always agree on every issue, but they
(relations) are very strong," he added.
"This is a chance to continue to advance those relationships,"
he said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2005)