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But one thing at a time. And as I said to you, I certainly do not want to appear in the United States as a finger-wagging scold. I think the US Administration and US Congressmen are perfectly capable of working out what is in their own national interest. I am sure, looking as a well-wisher from outside, that it should be in their own national interest to see China as a full and fully committed member of the World Trade Organisation and a normal trading relationship between the United States and China. The sooner we can get that the better for all of us.
Question: Sir, in the past few days we have seen a seemingly new relationship between China and Russia arise. What impact do you think this will have on US Congress which is already sensitive?
Governor: It may have some, particularly it may have an effect on those congressmen who have not read that book that Harrison Salisbury wrote about 20 years ago in which he talked about the last, or was it the last but one, raprochemal - or was it the reverse? - between China and the Soviet Union as it then was. I don't think that any American politician should be too concerned about President Yeltsin's visit to China, nor in particular about the sorting out of a number of decades-old border disputes between China and Russia.
I realise that some of the interpretative comment on this successful visit will be used to stir up ancient anxieties and antagonisms but I really do not think that a successful visit by President Yeltsin should make people too worried or too anxious.
Europe needs to find the basis for a good relationship with Russia to the West. and is still struggling within the context of its discussions about the future of NATO to do that, and I think it is reasonable that China should sort out a reasonable
relationship in the East as well.
Question: Governor, since the press and TV people are leaving --
Governor: They are leaving so that they can set up outside so that they can ask me questions as I walk past, which I won't answer because I have already made a speech,
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I mean on that basis you may like to stay. It may be a particularly good question and I might not even able to answer it.
Question: It might be a question that the press was willing to ask you but you might not answer. But since they are leaving, maybe I can ask you this question with closed- doors, Governor.