"The United States will not support Taiwan independence or any unilateral move toward that direction on the part of Taiwan," Mullen told reporters at a press conference.

As a guest of Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy commander Wu Shengli, Mullen arrived in China on August 17 for a friendly visit. He delivered a speech at a Chinese naval academy and observed naval exercises from on board a Chinese warship.

During the visit, Mullen also met with Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Guo Boxiong, vice chairmen of China's Central Military Commission.

China-US relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, Cao told Mullen, noting that flourishing bilateral ties will not only serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, but will also be conducive to the peace, stability and prosperity of the region and world as well.

Agreeing with Cao's view on bilateral relations, Mullen said that US-China relations are very important and the dialogue between the two nations as well as the two militaries is "critical".

Mullen, who has been nominated by US President George W. Bush to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, promised to Cao that he would continue to nurture the bilateral ties no matter whether he serves in his current position or as Bush's major military adviser and leader of the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, according to a press release provided by the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

Mullen also expressed his hope that exchanges and cooperation in such fields as military academic education and exchange visits of warships, could be further boosted in an effort to increase mutual understanding and trust, said the press release.