Scenes of China-US friendship also touched us deeply during the Beijing Olympic Games last month. Here are a few examples. President Bush and three generations of the Bush family traveled to Beijing and joined Chinese spectators in cheering for Chinese and U.S. teams. The U.S. women's volleyball team and gymnastics team that competed with the Chinese teams both had Chinese coaches, while Chinese players who play in NBA were very popular. The U.S. synchronized swimming team unfurled a banner with the words "Thank you, China" on it by the pool side and received thunderous applause from the Chinese spectators.

These examples show once again that there exist a deep affinity and a strong bond of friendship between our two peoples. I wish to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the American people from all walks of life for your abiding commitment to China-US friendship and extend heartfelt gratitude to the U.S. government and people for your strong support to our earthquake rescue and relief work and our efforts in hosting the Olympic Games.

Ladies and gentlemen,

With the U.S. presidential election less than two months away, many people have asked me how I would see China-US relations after the election. I told them that China hopes to maintain and develop the constructive and cooperative relations with the United States whoever becomes its next president. And we are confident that China-US relations will continue to move forward, as the trend of history will not turn back. I say this because:

First, China and the United States have never enjoyed so extensive common interests as they do today. We have worked together to uphold world peace and stability and tackle growing global economic and financial challenges. Our cooperation has gone beyond the bilateral context in terms of both its substance and significance and such cooperation is having a growing impact on the world. Steady growth of China-US relations serves the fundamental interests of our two peoples and meets the trend of the times.

Second, due to differences in social system, development level, history and culture, China and the United States may not see eye to eye on certain issues. This is nothing terrible. As long as we engage in dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, we will be able to gradually dispel misgivings and enhance mutual trust.

Third, both the Chinese people and the American people are open, innovative, and eager to learn. In just over 200 years, the United States has developed itself into the strongest country in the world with brilliant achievements in the economic, scientific and technological fields. The Chinese civilization, stretching back five thousand years, is showing greater vitality in the new era. What is behind the splendid achievements we both scored though our histories are different? I think it is openness, inclusiveness and the spirit of drawing upon the strengths of others. Two countries that appreciate each other and learn from each other can live together in amity and achieve common progress.

Fourth, China's development will not harm anyone, nor will it be a threat to anyone. China has taken an active part in the building of the international system and will not do anything to undermine it. China is a big responsible country. As China continues to grow in overall national strength, it is ready to make even greater contribution to human progress and development. The Chinese economy now contributes more than 10 percent to the world economic growth. China has taken an active part in the settlement of major international and regional issues such as the Korean nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue. China is ready to work together with the rest of the international community to jointly meet global challenges of financial volatility, energy and food shortage, and climate change.

China and the United States are not rivals. We are partners in cooperation, and we can well be friends. During his stay in Beijing for the Olympic Games, President Bush said to me that U.S.-China relationship was not one in which "I win you lose" or "you win I lose." Gains for China do not mean losses for the United States, and gains for the United States do not mean losses for China. The United States can benefit from China's prosperity and development and our two countries can prosper together. I am pleased to see that both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party attach importance to China-U.S. relations. I believe this shows the strategic vision and political wisdom of President Bush and the two political parties. It also represents the wish of the entire American people.

I want to stress that the Chinese Government always attaches importance to China-U.S. relations. We sincerely hope that through friendly cooperation, our two countries will blaze a bright path of harmonious coexistence and common development between big countries with different cultural backgrounds.

The question of Taiwan has always been the most sensitive question at the core of China-U.S. relations. History has shown that the smooth development of China-U.S. relations depends, to a great extent, on the proper handling of the Taiwan question.