Hu holds talks with Bush; to visit US early next year
(Xinhua/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2005-11-19 20:29

The Gangwashi church, 403.5-square-meter large, was established in 1922, and was rebuilt in 2004. The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited the church in March.

Bush rides his mountain bike on the Laoshan Olympic mountain bike course in Beijing, November 20, 2005. Bush took time out of his busy two-day Beijing schedule to exercise on his bike with Chinese cyclists. [AP]

China has 16 million Christian followers and 50,000 Christian churches and religious places, according to statistics of the State Administration of Religious Affairs.

Bush will have talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao after visiting the Gangwashi church.

Chinese President Hu Jintao accepted an invitation for him to visit the United States during talks with visiting US President George W. Bush Sunday in Beijing.

Hu said he is willing to further exchange ideas with Bush on bilateral ties and the enhancement of cooperation on international and Asia-Pacific affairs.

Hu recalled his previous meeting with Bush in New York in September as a "very good one".

Bush thanked Hu for their "candid" and "frank" exchanges of ideas. He said China is an exciting country and an important one. His current visit, he said, is an opportunity to further push forward bilateral relations, which are crucial to both countries.

Bush extended an invitation for Hu to visit his country so as to continue to explore, through dialog, ways for the two peoples to maintain open and constructive relations.

Hu accepted with pleasure, saying that he is ready to pay a visit to the United States early next year.

At a joint press conference after their talks, Hu Jintao said that it is in the common interest of both China and the United State to oppose and contain "Taiwan Independence," and to safeguard stability across the Taiwan Straits.

"The Chinese government and people have been committed to safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Straits, and will make the utmost efforts with the utmost sincerity to achieve the country's peaceful reunification, but we will never tolerate 'Taiwan Independence'."

He also said that China's path of peaceful development is "an inevitable choice" based on its national conditions, its historical and cultural traditions and the current development trend in today's world.

President Hu Jintao hosted a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People Sunday morning to welcome visiting US President George W. Bush.