Bush in China for talks on security, trade and rights
Nov 19, 2005 (BEIJING) — US President George W. Bush arrived in China late Saturday for talks with the leaders of the Asian giant expected to touch on thorny issues, from human rights to economic and trade rows.
North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, the value of China’s currency and the threat of bird flu were issues expected to come up when Bush meets his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao on Sunday, US officials said.
Bush, who is on an Asia tour, flew to Beijing Saturday evening from South Korea, where he attended a summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. He was due to fly to Mongolia on Monday.
The US president was expected to discuss with Hu and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao prickly questions about democracy and political and religious freedoms in China, and Beijing’s growing role as a geopolitical player.
“The rise of China’s role in the world is one of the most important variables we all face,” Mike Green, Bush’s special assistant for National Security Affairs, told reporters aboard Air Force One.
“The president is optimistic about U.S.-China relations but believes that to make progress we have to expand the areas of cooperation, but also be very candid about the areas where we disagree,” he said according to a transcript.
Green said Bush would also discuss China’s position on a number of international issues — from the Iranian nuclear standoff with the West to human rights violations in military-ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma.
“China is responsible as a stakeholder, as a permanent member of the (UN) Security Council, to make progress with us on issues with Syria, with Sudan, with Iran and so forth — with Burma, for example,” Green said.
Bush, a devout Christian, was due to start his visit Sunday by attending a prayer service at the Gangwashi Church in Beijing.
“It’s Sunday, so the president will want to worship,” said Green. “But it’s also important that the world see and that the Chinese people see that expression of faith is a good thing for a healthy and mature society.”
Bush would talk to Hu about “giving more opportunities for Chinese citizens to worship, to speak freely and to exercise other rights, and also to form a civil society with non-governmental organizations,” Green said.
A number of Chinese political dissidents earlier told AFP that several activists had been arrested or placed under house arrest ahead of Bush’s visit.
On bird flu, Green said, Bush would discuss with Chinese leaders ways to help China “deal with a possible pandemic” after several outbreaks and the first human cases have been detected in the world’s most populous nation.
“The Chinese have been forthcoming on bird flu,” said Green. “I think the SARS experience taught them that for their own internal interests, and for their role in the world, they need to be swift and transparent.”
On the economic front, Bush “will be pushing for movement towards a flexible market based currency system in China,” said Green. Washington’s says China’s yuan is undervalued to boost Chinese exports at the expense of jobs elsewhere.
“These are steps — whether it’s intellectual property rights protection or moving to a market based exchange rate system — (that) are in China’s own economic interests in the near term and the long term,” Green said.
During Bush’s visit, China was also due to announce the purchase of 70 Boeing 737 passenger jets from US aircraft maker Boeing, Green said.
On a lighter note, Bush, a fitness enthusiast, was set go mountain bike riding with Chinese athletes who are training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
(AFP/ST)