BEIJING -- Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush in a Monday phone call discussed ways to develop relations, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday. Spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue made the comment at a press briefing in the Chinese capital where she was asked to elaborate on a state-run news item Nov. 8 saying the two leaders had talked Monday evening. She said the call reflected the importance of maintaining high-level contacts and exchanges.
Xinhua said Hu called Bush as a follow-up to the congratulatory message sent in the early morning hours of Nov. 4, Beijing time, once the president's reelection was confirmed.
After reiterating his congratulations, Hu touched upon progress made in bilateral cooperation in recent years, saying his country "appreciated U.S. commitment to a one-China policy and the three joint communiqués, plus its opposition to Taiwan independence."
America's relations with China are underpinned by communiqués signed in 1972 to resume talks, 1979 establishing full diplomatic relations, and 1982 putting a cap on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, dependent upon the mainland's ability to project force against the island.
