China thanked President Bush yesterday for his comments on diplomatic rival Taiwan and said Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the United States had been a complete success.

"We think the remarks made by President Bush when he met...Wen were positive, and the Chinese side expresses its appreciation, " Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.

China considers Taiwan a breakaway province and has vowed to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Bush, in a meeting with Wen Tuesday, said the United States opposed any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo, adding that the "comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally to change the status quo."

Wednesday, Wen wrapped up a four-day visit to the United States -

- the first by a Chinese leader since a sweeping leadership transition that was finalized in March.

Asked for an overall assessment of the trip, Liu said it had "achieved complete success, and it will certainly become an important and positive influence in the continued development of the Sino-US constructive cooperation partnership." Tensions rose last month when lawmakers in Taiwan debated and passed the referendum bill, and Chen has said he would push for a referendum to be held in March.

Chen also announced Thursday had had nominated his proindependence vice president, Annette Lu, as his running mate in the March election.

Liu declined to comment on Chen's choice, but in the past Chinese state media has called Lu a traitor and "scum of the nation."

Analysts say Bush's comments marked a subtle shift for the United States which had previously said it "did not support" Taiwan inde-pCendence and were a warning to hen not to hold the referendum.