THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

President Clinton and President Jiang Zemin exchanged letters on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China.

Attached is President Clinton's letter to President Jiang.

January 1, 1999

Dear Mr. President:

As we mark the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China, we can take pride in the fruitful efforts you and I -- and our predecessors -- have made to deepen and strengthen U.S.-China relations. The expansion of cooperation between our two nations has increased mutual understanding and established the basis for stronger future relations.

I am personally committed to building a constructive strategic partnership with China that will benefit our two peoples and promote a stable and prosperous Asia-Pacific region. Our exchange of visits in 1997 and 1998 furthered our ability to work together to meet global and regional challenges critical to both our countries.

Today, as we celebrate our achievements over the past twenty years, we should reflect on ways to strengthen our ties for future generations. We must work together to meet the common challenges of the 21st century while frankly addressing differences. In this way, we will be able to build the kind of partnership that will serve the interests and hopes of the American and Chinese peoples.

On the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of our relationship, I am pleased to convey the warmest wishes of the American people to the people of China, our congratulations on the achievements of the Chinese people over the past two decades, and our sincere commitment to increasingly cooperative and mutually beneficial relations in the decades to come.

Sincerely,

Bill Clinton

His Excellency Jiang Zemin
President of the People's Republic of China Beijing

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