BEIJING, Oct. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- China says the Taiwan question will be the key topic of the bilateral talks during US Secretary of State Colin Powell's visit to China.

    Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue says the Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China and US relations. China urges the US to follow its pledge to stick to the "One China" policy and the Three Joint Communiques and be opposed to Taiwan Independence, according to China Radio International.

    China calls on the US to stop all official relations with Taiwan and not to have any military contact with it, including weapons sales. China urges the US to stop sending misleading messages to Taiwan, in order to guarantee China and US relations develop smoothly.

    Zhang Qiyue adds that Powell's visit will be an important one that will promote bilateral relations and China is looking forward to exchanging views with Powell on bilateral ties and issues of common concern, like the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula and anti-terrorism campaigns.

    She also says, as two major nations in the world and permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and the US have many common topics to discuss and are both responsible for maintaining world peace.

(CRIENGLISH.com)