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First, I want to talk about the need for the United States and China to work together on the international stage.

Our great nations share a weighty responsibility. As nuclear powers, permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and two of the world's biggest economies, we must lead. We have a common stake in building and upholding an international system that promotes global peace and prosperity.

Nowhere has cooperation been more crucial than in our efforts to halt the spread of weapons of mass destruction. The last few years demonstrate just how much the United States and China can accomplish when we work together. Together we helped ensure the indefinite and unconditional extension of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. And together we helped secure one of the landmark achievements of the nuclear age: the conclusion of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. These two giant steps have made our citizens safer. Americans and Chinese will be even more secure if we redouble our efforts to end the production of fissile material for nuclear bombs, to join the global convention to ban chemical weapons, and to strengthen the ability of the international community to detect and stop illicit nuclear programs.

While the United States and China have worked side-by-side to reach important understandings on nonproliferation, much remains to be done. In my meetings yesterday we advanced our work together toward this goal. Our new regular dialogue on nonproliferation and arms control issues will facilitate further progress. We have a shared interest in preventing the introduction of sensitive technologies to volatile regions such as South Asia and the Persian Gulf. Let me be clear: Countries such as Iran that sponsor terror and work against peace cannot be trusted to respect international norms or safeguards. Their attempts to acquire nuclear and chemical weapons and missile technology threaten the interests of both our countries. We must work together to stop them.

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As I have said many times, the United States is firmly committed to expanding our relationship within the context of our "one China" policy as embodied in the communiques. We believe that the PRC and Taiwan must resolve their differences among themselves. At the same time, we have a strong interest in the peaceful resolution of issues between Taipei and Beijing. We believe that the PRC and Taiwan share that interest. We have emphasized to both the importance of avoiding provocative actions or unilateral measures that would alter the status quo or pose a threat to peaceful resolution of outstanding issues. We are encouraged that both sides have taken steps to ease tensions. We hope the PRC and Taiwan will soon resume a cross-Strait dialogue that can help build trust and settle differences.

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