Australian Prime Minister John Howard(L) and US President George W. Bush conduct a press conference in the East Room of the White House. (AFP photo)

BEIJING, July 20 -- US President Bush commented that Sino-US relations are "complicated" due to many differences that exist in the values and ideologies held by the two peoples.

    Australian Prime Minister John Howard met with US President George W. Bush on Tuesday at the White House. They held talks on relations with China, as well as on other international issues including terrorism, freer trade and the North Korean nuclear issue.

    At a joint press conference with the Australian Prime Minister, President Bush, talking about relations with China, said: "It's a complicated relationship. We have important economic relathionship. Our export to China were increasing. We have some difficiulties in it. One of such difficiulty is their currency. We work with China to convince them that it makes sense that they change the way how they value their currency. The second problem is the intellectual property right."

    The Chinese government has repeatedly stated that they are determined to keep the Renminbi exchange rate stable at a reasonable and balanced level, while they deepen reform of the foreign exchange administrative system, and push forward the reform of RMB exchange rate mechanism. Accordingly, any hasty action would be irresponsible.

    In relation to the protection of Intellectual Property Rights, China has handled over 24 thousand trademark infringement cases and seized more than 167 million illegal audio-video and pirated products since it launched a massive crackdown on IPR violations last September.

    24 illegal CD production lines and nearly 3 thousand illegal printing workshops have been destroyed or closed down so far.

    Australian Prime Minister John Howard said his country has built good relationships with China, especially in the economic sphere.

    "We have a good relationship with China. It's not just based on economic opportunities. There are a lot of people to peopel ties and they are growing all the time."

    China is Australia's 3rd largest trading partner, with a total trade volume of 23 billion US dollars last year. China is the biggest market for Australia's iron ore, fleece and fur. And a bilateral free trade agreement which is currently being discussed is expected to generate gains of 24 billion US dollars in the coming decade to Australia alone.

    Also at Tuesday's press conference, President Bush said that China is an important and equal partner in the six-party talks to resolve the North Korea nuclear crisis through diplomatic means.

    The fourth round of six-party talks are scheduled at next Tuesday after a year long standoff.

    Australia is not a party to the talks but "has been supportive of" the US-led security initiative.

    Prime Minister Howard left for the United States on Friday having made a pledge to send 150 elite troops to Afghanistan ahead of September elections there.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)