CHINA: US SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT VISIT CONTINUES
(24 Feb 1997) English/Nat Calling U-S relations with China "a key to stability", U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has urged human rights improvements in China but acknowledges it could be a long process. Albright arrived in Beijing Monday for talks with top Chinese officials, including Chinese foreign minister Qian Qichen, Prime Minister Li Peng and President Jiang Zemin. The meetings are being held a day before a memorial service for China's long-time paramount leader Deng Xiaoping. The U-S Secretary of State Madeleine Albright continued her whirlwind world tour Monday with a visit to China. The only senior Western official to visit China during the six-day mourning period for paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, she met with Chinese Prime Minister Li Peng. The meetings here in Beijing were compressed into one day so that Albright will leave early Tuesday morning before the funeral ceremony for Deng, who died last Wednesday at 92. A dinner and some sightseeing for Albright has been cancelled out of respect to the Chinese. Beijing is Albright's last stop on a nine-country, 11-day world-wide trip, her first abroad as secretary of state. During the talks, she signalled the Clinton administration's commitment to improving relations with Beijing. But she noted differences over human rights and a growing trade deficit - 39 (b) billion dollars last year up from 33 (b) billion dollars in 1995. Human rights were on her agenda for talks with top Chinese officials who included Chinese President Jiang Zemin. She noted that China had released some political prisoners, but said the U-S would like to see more. Albright affirmed U-S commitment to the Shanghai Communiqué signed during President Nixon's breakthrough trip in 1972 that first took the position there is only one China and Taiwan is part of China. Taiwan later was stripped of U-S diplomatic recognition. On Sunday, Albright endorsed tight restrictions on private visits by Taiwanese officials to the United States. High-level exchanges between the United States and China were suspended by George Bush, Clinton's predecessor to try and force political reform in China. The suspension followed Deng's ordering of soldiers to fire on pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in June 1989. Now Vice President Al Gore is getting ready to go to Beijing, and Presidents Clinton and Ziang are expected to exchange visits within the next two years. Albright said the U-S and China would continue to talk. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I am confident, based on today's meetings, that the vigorous strategic dialogue that is developing between the United States and China will continue." SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State Despite the thaw, Albright said she was unprepared to steer clear of sensitive issues and that included human rights. SOUNDBITE: (English) "On human rights, as I have said before, this is a signature element in American foreign policy and a major issue in our relations with China. Our views reflect our history, our ideals, universal values, and our sense of what helps societies progress. I raised our serious concerns about Chinese practices which were described in my department's recent human rights report, and I expressed clearly our support for internationally recognised human rights, including the right to free expression of political and religious beliefs." SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State SOUNDBITE: (English) SUPER CAPTION: Madeleine Albright, U.S. Secretary of State Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
