Proper handling of the Taiwan question, which was and remains the most important and sensitive issue in China-US relations, is the key to a stable and growing relationship between the two countries, a senior official said Friday.

Signed on February 28, 1971, "The Shanghai Communique put an end to 23 years of mutual estrangement between China and the United States and opened the door for their renewed exchanges,'' said State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan at a meeting to mark the 32nd anniversary of the issuance of the communique.

The communique laid down some basic guiding principles for the conduct of Sino-US relations, Tang said. The principles were subsequently reaffirmed and expanded in the Communique on the Establishment of China-US Diplomatic Relations and August 17th Communique.

"The very core of the three joint communiques is the one-China principle,'' he stressed.

China hopes the United States will stick to the one-China policy, abide by the principles of the three joint communiques, oppose Taiwan independence and uphold its stated position on the issue of Taiwan's referendum so as to preserve the common interests of China and the United States and maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the councilor said.

"Peaceful reunification and one country, two systems'' is the fundamental principle to resolve Taiwan question, Tang said. To this, the Chinese Government and people have made long-term unremitting efforts.

A peaceful resolution of Taiwan question conforms to the interest of the United States and China, agreed the US Ambassador to China Clark T. Randt in his speech.

However, Tang noted the separatist forces in Taiwan have turned their back on the fundamental interests of the Taiwan people and the common well-being of the people across the Straits by pushing for Taiwan independence, erecting one barrier after another to cross-Straits relations and creating endless troubles to hamper peace in the Taiwan Straits.

"Facts have proved that the referendum which the leader of the Taiwan authorities is launching unilaterally has nothing to do with democracy in Taiwan's society; neither will it serve peace in Taiwan,'' he said.

"It can only aggravate the divisiveness and turbulence in Taiwan and lead to tensions across the Straits. Such a provocative action is bound to meet widespread opposition from the people across the Straits and international community at large.''

"Attempts at Taiwan independence pose the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits right now,'' Tang said.

Tang said Sino-US relations have delivered tangible benefits to the two peoples thanks to the concerted efforts by the leaders and people of the two countries.

Apart from frequent visits by national leaders and officials of each other, the two governments have signed more than 30 cooperative agreements and proud results are achieved in cooperation in law enforcement, culture, education, health care, competitive sports, Tang said.

"Besides, our cooperation on such issues at the war on terrorism, the Korean Peninsular issue, the Iraqi reconstruction, the UN affairs and many more is also highly fruitful,'' Tang said.

During their meeting between US Secretary of State Colin Powell and China's Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, the two officials agreed that the two nations are enjoying the best period of bilateral relations in history, said the ambassador.

The bilateral relations will become better and better in the future, he added.

The US has invested in over 40,000 projects in China with a total paid value of US$44 billion.

Thirty-five pairs of China's provinces and US states, as well 114 pairs of cities from both sides have become "sisters,'' said Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Affairs.

(China Daily February 28, 2004)