WASHINGTON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao's recent appeal to resume cross-Strait dialogue and negotiations under the one-China principle is encouraging and will help reduce tensions across the Taiwan Straits, a U.S. congressman said Thursday.

    "It is always good to have talks, " Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), member of the House of the Representatives and Co-chair of the House U.S.- China Working Group, told Xinhua.

    He said President Hu's statement is "encouraging" and shows sincerity and willingness on the part of the Chinese mainland to resume cross-Strait dialogue.

    Kirk said that Hu's appeal will help ease tensions across the Straits.

    The congressman also pointed out that there is no way for Taiwan authorities to join the United Nations under the name of "Taiwan."

    Calling U.S.-China ties "the most important diplomatic relationship" for the United States, he said the U.S. Congress is looking forward to having more exchanges and cooperation with China's National People's Congress (NPC).

    Kirk also said there is joint interest for China and the United States to protect the Beijing Olympics from terrorism threats.

    On March 4, President Hu made the appeal for the resumption of cross-Strait talks when he met with political advisors attending the First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing.

    "We are ready to have exchange, dialogue, consultation and negotiation with any political parties in Taiwan, as long as they recognize that both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China," Hu said.

    "The negotiation will be conducted on an equal footing with completely open topics -- there is nothing we can't talk about," he added.