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HIGH-LEVEL U.S./CHINESE MEETINGS IN SEATTLE
DURING THE ASIA-PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC) CONFERENCE IN SEATTLE, SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER MET WITH VICE PREMIER AND FOREIGN MINISTER QIAN QICHEN FOR 1-1/4 HOURS ON NOVEMBER 17 AND PRESIDENT CLINTON MET WITH PRC PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN FOR AN HOUR ON NOVEMBER 19. IN ADDITION, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS SHATTUCK MET WITH HIS COUNTERPART, CHINESE ASSISTANT MINISTER QIN HUASUN, FOR FOUR HOURS ON NOVEMBER 17 TO CONTINUE OUR BILATERAL HUMAN RIGHTS DIALOGUE. USTR KANTOR AND COMMERCE SECRETARY BROWN MET ON THE MARGINS OF APEC WITH CHINESE TRADE MINISTER WU YI TO REVIEW OUR BILATERAL ECONOMIC AND COMMERCIAL AGENDA.
0 THIS WAS THE FIRST MEETING BETWEEN A U.S. PRESIDENT AND A CHINESE PRESIDENT SINCE EARLY 1989. IT WAS SECRETARY CHRISTOPHER'S THIRD MEETING IN FOUR MONTHS WITH FM QIAN, THE SECRETARY HAVING MET WITH HIM IN SINGAPORE AT THE END OF JULY AND IN NEW YORK CITY SEPTEMBER 30 DURING THE UNGA SESSION.
о THE SECRETARY AND THE PRESIDENT USED THESE MEETINGS AS OPPORTUNITIES TO REITERATE AMERICA'S DESIRE FOR GOOD RELATIONS WITH A CHINA WHICH IS STRONG, STABLE, PROSPEROUS, AND FRIENDLY -- BUT ALSO OUR INSISTEnce on PROGRESS ON HUMAN RIGHTS, NONPROLIFERATION, AND TRADE.
о THE PRESIDENT RESTATED THE U.S. GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO THE THREE JOINT COMMUNIQUES AS THE BASIS FOR THE U.S.-CHINESE RELATIONSHIP.
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THE PRESIDENT AND THE SECRETARY URGED EARLY, VISIBLE CHINESE PROGRESS ON THE KEY HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES SPECIFIED IN THE PRESIDENT'S MAY 28 EXECUTIVE ORDER, INCLUDING COOPERATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS TO FACILITATE PRISON VISITS, MEDICAL PAROLE OF PRISONERS REPORTEDLY ILL, AND APPROVAL OF EXIT PERMISSION FOR RELATIVES OF CHINESE DISSIDENTS RESIDING IN THE U,S.
THE U.S. LEADERS MADE CLEAR THAT, IN KEEPING WITH THE PRESIDENT'S MAY 28 EXECUTIVE ORDER, RENEWAL OF CHINA'S MOST FAVORED NATION (MFN) TRADING STATUS NEXT YEAR WOULD DEPEND ON "OVERALL, SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS" ON HUMAN RIGHTS.
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