ACCESSION NUMBER:296510
FILE ID:POL103
DATE:07/26/93
TITLE:CHRISTOPHER-QIAN BILATERAL BUSINESSLIKE, POSITIVE (07/26/93)
TEXT:*93072603.POL
CHRISTOPHER-QIAN BILATERAL BUSINESSLIKE, POSITIVE
(Discussion wide-ranging, U.S. official says) (680)
By Robert F. Holden
USIA Staff Writer
Singapore -- The first meeting between Secretary of State Christopher and
Chinese Foreign Minister Qian Qichen could be characterized as
"businesslike and positive," according to a senior U.S. official.
Speaking to reporters on background following the July 25 meeting between
the American secretary and the Chinese vice premier, the official said the
two held a wide-ranging discussion. "There is a recognition on both sides
that our interests converge on some issues," the official said, "but there
are some serious differences on other issues, and we have to work at these
differences energetically and frankly so that the overall relationship can
gain greater momentum."
Christopher took the opportunity to lay out the Clinton administration's
China policy and to establish a personal relationship with his counterpart,
and emphasized the need for China to make steady progress throughout the
year on the core issues of human rights, non-proliferation and trade, the
official said. He also indicated that the United States was willing to
engage in more meetings and visits with China, provided concrete progress
is made on those core issues, the official said.
The official said that in the context of U.S. concerns over
non-proliferation, Christopher specifically brought up the issue of China's
alleged shipments of M-11 missiles to Pakistan. "There was an extensive
exchange on this question," the official said, "and he underlined the
seriousness of the issue and possible implications and the hope that the
Chinese side could give some good explanations."
"There is disturbing evidence of shipments and that is why we need an
explanation," the official said. "We don't know what the shipments were.
We have evidence that is disturbing. As you know, under the MTCR it could
either be missiles or related components. And either one would be a
violation of the guidelines." (China agreed in 1992 to abide by the
1rovisions of the MTCR -- the Missile Technology Control Regime -- even
though it is not a signatory or that accord.)
The official noted that Under Secretary of State Lynn Davis will be in
Beijing July 26 and 27 to conducts talks with the Chinese government
concerning the comprehensive test ban and President Clinton's proposal for
a moratorium on testing. "She will also be discussing this M-11 issue with
the non-proliferation issues," the official said.
"Even though there were extensive exchanges today, it's clear the more
detailed consideration of this issue will take place in Beijing in the next
couple of days, when Under Secretary Davis is there," the official said.
"In any event we plan to pursue this question very seriously."
Christopher also raised the issue of Chinese aliens being smuggled by boat
into the United States and other countries, underlining to Qian that it was
becoming a very serious problem, the official said.
The secretary of state asked the foreign minister for more cooperation from
the Chinese end and encouraged the vice premier to investigate smuggling
activities in China, to cut down on this criminal activity, and publicize
case histories of innocent victims who have returned to China, so that
other Chinese citizens could understand that these people are victims, to
help to deter this practice.
Also, the official said, Christopher asked for continued assurance by the
Chinese that returned migrants, when they went back to China, would be
treated fairly and humanely.
Qian, the official said, agreed with most of the requests but made it very
clear that the problem is often an international one and therefore is in
need of international cooperation to fight it.
The Chinese foreign minister, touching on the issue of the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation (APEC) process, indicated that Beijing has a positive
attitude, and gave a positive response to the president's proposal for an
informal leadership conference at the Seattle ministerial in November, the
official said, adding "We will continue to consult with them on this
issue."
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