Albright ends China tour, says US not to support Taiwan’s independence

Albright said the US remains committed to a "one China" policy, the peaceful resolution of differences between China and Taiwan, and resumption of cross-strait dialogue.

The recent election of the president of Taiwan may provide new opportunities for dialogue, but it is up to China and Taiwan to choose the level and channel for talks, she said.

At the same time, Albright said she urged Chinese leaders to be flexible and hold talks with Taiwan’s new administration. But, China is insisting that Chen acknowledge the principle of one-China before the two sides could agree on dialogue or a summit meeting.

Albright, who concluded her fifth visit to China on Friday, left here for Seoul around noon after meeting with Jiang, premier Zhu Rongji, vice-premier Qian Qichen and Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan.

The Chinese media also quoted Albright as saying that the "US government attaches great importance to Sino-US ties". Albright noted that China has made progress on issues such as non-proliferation, the environment, the rule of law, and counter-terrorism, but said that the US agenda is also concerned with "areas where we have sharp differences with China", such as human rights and Tibet.

Describing Taiwan the most important matter in Sino-US relations, Jiang, also General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China, urged Washington to take actions to support the one-China policy and observe relevant commitments regarding Taiwan, which Beijing views as a rebel province that must be reunified at an early date.

"The leaders of China and the United States should, proceeding from the historical heights, face the future and push forward the continued development of bilateral relations," he said.

"This year is of major significance for both countries and maintenance of the trend of improving and developing Sino-US relations is conducive to the long-term interests of both countries," Xinhua News Agency quoted Jiang as telling Albright, the senior-most US official to visit Beijing after US war planes bombed the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in May last year.

The Chinese President also said that he is looking forward to his meeting with his US counterpart, Bill Clinton, during the coming United Nations millennium summit in New York in September.