Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=6/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233815
TITLE=CHINA / U-S (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=GIL BUTLER
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES, LI ZHAOXING, 
DENIED ALLEGATIONS THAT HIS COUNTRY HAS AIMED NUCLEAR MISSILES AT
THE AMERICA AND SAYS CHINA PRESENTS NO THREAT TO ANYONE.  HE 
EMPHASIZED THE ADVANTAGES OF A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN 
BEIJING AND WASHINGTON.  THE AMBASSADOR MADE HIS COMMENTS AT A 
WASHINGTON NEWS CONFERENCE CALLED IN ADVANCE OF PRESIDENT 
CLINTON'S JUNE 25TH VISIT TO CHINA.  V-O-A'S GIL BUTLER HAS MORE 
ON THE STORY.
TEXT:  AMBASSADOR LI GAVE A LENGTHY RUNDOWN OF THE ADVANTAGES 
THAT  HAVE COME FROM CLOSER RELATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND THE 
UNITED STATES.  AMONG THEM -- COOPERATION ON A RESPONSE TO THE 
NUCLEAR TESTS BY INDIA AND PAKISTAN AND INCREASED TRADE.
THE AMBASSADOR, SPEAKING TO REPORTERS ONE DAY AFTER PRESIDENT 
CLINTON TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR U-S ENGAGEMENT WITH CHINA, 
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A TRADE IMBALANCE.  BUT SAID HE WAS, 
ON THE WHOLE, ENCOURAGED.
                         /// LI ACT ///
         THE WHOLE THING IS VERY ENCOURAGING.  RIGHT NOW, CHINA 
         IS WILLING AND CAPABLE OF PURCHASING MORE GOODS FROM 
         AMERICA.  WE ARE READY EVEN TO BUY AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS
         SUCH AS GRAPES, TANGERINES, AND CALIFORNIA WINES.  ALSO 
         WE WOULD LIKE TO BUY SOME OF YOUR MORE EXPENSIVE 
         PRODUCTS.  HOWEVER, WE DO HOPE, TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE, 
         THE AMERICAN SIDE WILL FURTHER RELAX ITS EXPORT 
         CONTROLS.
                         /// END ACT ///
CHINA HAS SAID IT HAS NO PLANS TO DEVALUE ITS CURRENCY, THE 
R-M-B, IN RESPONSE TO THE ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS.  AMBASSADOR LI 
TOLD REPORTERS HE IS -- TO USE HIS WORDS -- "PRETTY OPTIMISTIC" 
THAT CHINA CAN TAKE TO KEEP ITS HIGH EXPORT RATE.  FINANCIAL 
ANALYSTS SAY BEIJING MAY HAVE INCREASING DIFFICULTIES DEFENDING 
THE VALUE OF THE CURRENCY IF THE JAPANESE YEN LOSES MORE 
STRENGTH.
LI ZHAOXING CALLED ON THE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES AND JAPAN TO 
DO MORE TO HALT THE SLIDE OF THE YEN, BUT HE DID NOT SPECIFY WHAT
THOSE STEPS SHOULD BE.
IN RESPONSE TO A REPORTER'S QUESTION, MR. LI DENIED THAT CHINA 
HAS  MISSILES AIMED AT THE UNITED STATES AND SAID CHINA POSES NO 
THREAT TO ANY OTHER COUNTRY. (SIGNED)
NEB/MGB/RRM
12-Jun-98 1:58 PM EDT (1758 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.