On the morning of February 24, 2003, Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan met with visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. The two sides exchanged opinions on bilateral ties and the current major international issues, both maintaining that the talks are in-depth and constructive.

Tang said that the great changes of the international situation have brought both opportunities and challenges to the advancement of the Sino-US ties. He added that China is willing to make further efforts with the US side, increase understanding and strengthen cooperation with US in accordance with the agreements reached by President Jiang Zemin and President Bush at Crawford, in order to promote the Sino-US constructive relations of cooperation. He said that the Chinese side welcomes the upcoming visit of Vice President Cheney in this spring and believes it will achieve positive results.

Tang said that the Taiwan question is concerning the core interest of China and to appropriately handle the question is the key to ensuring the stable development of the bilateral ties. He also urged the US side to adhere to the One China policy and observe the commitments made in the three joint communiqués between China and the US, so as to avoid the possible disturbances derived from the Taiwan question to the Sino-US ties.  

Powell said that the US-China ties have made great progress and good cooperation has been conducted in high-level dialogue, personnel exchanges, anti-terrorism and the commercial and trade field. He noted that Vice President Cheney will soon visit China and the US wishes to further consolidate cooperative ties with China. Powell said that bearing the importance of the Taiwan question to China in mind, the US side will adhere to the One China policy, observe the three joint communiqués between the two countries and will not support any activity concerning "Taiwan Independence" .

Powell briefed Tang on the stance of the US on the Iraqi issue and noted that the US side is conceiving new resolution draft in the Security Council of the United Nations within days. Powell said that to alleviate the severe situation caused by the DPRK nuclear issue, dialogue between the DPRK and US is necessary, while the participation of the international community and the role of the multi-lateral mechanism are also indispensable. He said that the US side wishes to solve the DPRK nuclear issue through diplomatic means.

On the Iraqi issue, Tang said that the Chinese side always maintains Resolution No. 1441 of the Security Council of the United Nations be observed comprehensively, faithfully and strictly. He said that Iraq should cooperate unconditionally with the United Nations in all facets with a more active attitude, and the weapons of mass destruction should be thoroughly destroyed. At the same time, Tang pointed out that the majority of the international community, including China, hold that it is pressing to go on with the weapons inspection work on Iraq to straighten things up, instead of conceiving a new resolution, so that a war could be avoided. Tang noted that it is in the interests of all parties if the Iraqi issue could be solved within the framework of the United Nations. He also expressed his wish that all parties can maintain close contacts to make further efforts.

On the DPRK nuclear issues, Tang said that the Chinese side advocates for the non-nuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, strongly maintain the peace, stability and security of the Peninsula, and calls for a peaceful resolution of the issue through dialogue and consultation. He said that the Chinese side has played a constructive role to this end and hopes the US and DPRK can begin dialogue on an equal footing at an early date, which is the most effective way to break the impasse and ease the tense situation.