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China-US Joint Statement
October 29, 1997
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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