BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States has no intention to invade the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday at a news conference before she concluded her China tour.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice answers reporters questions at a press conference in Beijing March 21, 2005 before she concluded her China visit. Rice said that the US has no intention to invade North Korea and is committed to the six-party talks for a solution to the nuclear issue. [newsphoto]

    "We are committed to the six-party talks because we believe it is the best way to solve the issue," she said when answering questions on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue.

    The six-party talks "is a framework in which we can bring the neighbors together to solve the problem," she said.

    Rice said both the United States and China are committed to a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, and the six-party talks is "potentially effective."

    One-China Policy

    The United States remains absolutely committed to the one-China policy, Rice said.

    Referring to her meetings with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders, Rice said, "I reiterated that the United States does in fact have the one-China policy that has been clearly consistent, a policy that is based on the three joint communiques."

    She expressed hope the status quo of the Taiwan Straits would be maintained, saying "the most useful path ahead is to reduce tension between the two sides."

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ponders an answer to a reporter's question at a press conference in Beijing March 21, 2005 before she concluded her China visit. [newsphoto]

    Sino-US relations

    The US side is looking forward to expanding and deepening relationship with China.

    Rice said US-China relations have developed "remarkably" in a way that would have been thought unthinkable a few years ago. "Today we are cooperating in changeable ways" on issues ranging from Asia to Afghanistan and Iraq, and from actions to the global war to fighting HIV/AIDS, she said.

    Rice said during her meetings here, the Chinese side agreed that "expanding cooperation between US and China is essential to the interests of both countries, particularly as China is a stateof major transformation".

    As the United States rapidly develops relations with China, "we want to do so honestly and based on global standards", the standards that are important in areas like human rights, non-proliferation of mass destructive weapons, trade and economic affairs.

    "On that basis and on basis of shared interests, we look forward to expanding and deepening relationship with China," Rice added.

    Growing economy a positive factor

    Rice said the US side thinks "it is a positive factor that Chinese economy is growing."

    "China's very rapid economic growth and its obvious impact on the international economy is something that everybody is watching and that everybody is concerned about," Rice said at the press conference.

    China's economy "is growing so rapidly and having such impact that people want to be assured that it is going to be encapsulated in a role-based approach to the international economy," she said.

    "It is why the US supported Chinese accession to the WTO (World Trade Organization), and it is why we had extensive discussions about the need to protect intellectual property right," she said, adding that it is also why it has been important to look at the trading balances.

    Rice said she had spent a good deal of time in Beijing talking about the economy with President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, and Vice Premier Wu Yi earlier.

    "I just think that as we go forward, and as the Chinese economy is becoming such a big factor, it is really critical that people know that there is an understanding in China of the responsibility that comes with that kind of rapid economic growth, because it is going to have a big impact on everybody and on everybody's economy," she added.

    Rice left Beijing for home shortly after the press conference, concluding her 24-hour visit to China that started Sunday afternoon. China is the last-leg of Rice's six-nation Asian trip that has already taken her to India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Japan and the Republic of Korea.

    During her stay in Beijing, Rice met respectively with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice-Premier Wu Yi, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, discussing China-US ties, the Taiwan question, the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, China-US trade cooperation, China's foreign exchange policy, protection of intellectual property rights, and the Doha Development Agenda of the World Trade Organization.

    This is Rice's first China trip as guest of Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing since she took office as top US diplomat in January.

    Rice visited China in February 2002 and July 2004 respectively,as the US national security adviser. Enditem