The nature of the Taiwan question is the sovereignty of China, a question of China's reunification or separation, President Hu Jintao said Monday.

China hopes the United States will not send the wrong signals to the "independence forces'' of Taiwan, Hu said in a meeting with a US Senate delegation headed by William H. Frist, the Senate majority leader.

The Chinese government's stance on the Taiwan question is persistent and clear, Hu said.

The US has reiterated time and again that it will adhere to the one-China policy, abide by the three Sino-US joint communiques and oppose the "independence of Taiwan.''

China appreciates that stance, Hu said.

China hopes the US will keep its word and play a constructive role in China's peaceful reunification, Hu said, adding he wishes the US Congress and the senators could exert a positive impact to this end.

The Sino-US relationship has been continuously improved and developed in recent years, and high-level leaders of the two countries have maintained frequent contact and dialogue.

The two sides have made new progress in exchanges and co-operation in the fields of anti-terrorism, economics and trade, law enforcement and public health, Hu said.

They have also conducted effective consultations and co-ordination in some major international and regions issues.

China and the United States should, from a strategic and long- term perspective, seek common interests, take into consideration the other side's concerns, handle the differences properly and steadfastly push forward the sound and stable development of bilateral relations, Hu said.

The president also briefed the guests on China's domestic and foreign policies, expressing his thanks to the friends in the US Senate and the House of Representatives who have cared for and supported Sino-US ties for a long time.

Frist, who also met separately with Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, said he agreed with Hu on US-China relations, noting the US side supports US President George W. Bush's commitments to Chinese leaders and adheres to the one-China policy.

The two nations share many common interests for a wide range of co-operation, Frist said, adding his delegation's visit to China shows the US attaches great importance to the promotion of US-China relations.

(China Daily April 22, 2003)