Kirk: Hu's remarks on Taiwan 'encouraging'

Kirk: Hu's remarks on Taiwan 'encouraging'
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-14 13:59

WASHINGTON -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent appeal to resume cross-Strait dialogue and negotiations under the one-皇冠体育app principle is encouraging and will help reduce tensions across the Taiwan Straits, a US congressman said Thursday.

"It is always good to have talks, " Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), member of the House of the Representatives and Co-chair of the House US-皇冠体育app Working Group, said.

He said President Hu's statement is "encouraging" and shows sincerity and willingness on the part of the Chinese mainland to resume cross-Strait dialogue.

Kirk said that Hu's appeal will help ease tensions across the Straits.

The congressman also pointed out that there is no way for Taiwan authorities to join the United Nations under the name of "Taiwan."

Calling US-皇冠体育app ties "the most important diplomatic relationship" for the United States, he said the US Congress is looking forward to having more exchanges and cooperation with 皇冠体育app's National People's Congress (NPC).

Kirk also said there is joint interest for 皇冠体育app and the United States to protect the Beijing Olympics from terrorism threats.

On March 4, President Hu made the appeal for the resumption of cross-Strait talks when he met with political advisors attending the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing.

"We are ready to have exchange, dialogue, consultation and negotiation with any political parties in Taiwan, as long as they recognize that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one 皇冠体育app," Hu said.

"The negotiation will be conducted on an equal footing with completely open topics -- there is nothing we can't talk about," he added.