Speaking beside Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen at a photo opportunity at the White House March 22, President Bush said that among the topics he intended to discuss with Qian were U.S. obligations under the Taiwan Relations Act. Bush said he looked forward his forthcoming trip to Shanghai and Beijing in October and the opportunity it would afford him to get to know the leaders of China.
China is a great country.
China has got vast potential. And we've got common interests in China, and I look forward to discussing our interests. I look forward to committing to this distinguished leader that any disagreements we will have, we will conduct ourselves with mutual respect. I will be firm, and I suspect he will be firm, in our opinions, but we will do so in a respectful way. It is in our nation's best interests that we have good relations with China.