DATE=1/24/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CHINA / US / MILITARY (L)
NUMBER=2-258380
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=PENTAGON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: One of Beijing's top generals is in Washington
for talks aimed at restoring frayed relations between
the United States and China. V-O-A's Jim Randle
reports, the official is holding a whirlwind series of
meetings with top U-S diplomats, lawmakers, and
military leaders.
TEXT: China's Lieutenant General Xiong Guangkai
(prono: shung guan-kai), met with the State
Department's top arms control official, John Holum,
and America's third ranking diplomat, Thomas
Pickering. U-S officials say the discussions focused
on non-proliferation and regional security issues, but
would give no details.
Other meetings are set with U-S based experts on
China, some key Senators, and Defense Secretary
William Cohen and other top military officials.
Xiong Guangkai is a key intelligence official for
China, and U-S officials say the exchange of views may
help resolve lingering Chinese anger over the
accidental U-S bombing of the Chinese embassy.
That incident during the Kosovo conflict killed three
people and severely damaged relations already strained
by arguments over the spread of Chinese missile
technology, proposed U-S weapons sales to Taiwan,
espionage allegations against China, and several other
issues.
The Chinese official is expected to stay in Washington
until Wednesday. The talks may clear the way for a
visit to Beijing by the top commander of all U-S
forces in the Pacific and Defense Secretary Cohen.
Experts on China say its huge size and growing
military prowess make it vital that Beijing get along
with Washington, which fields the world's most
powerful military. (SIGNED)
NEB/JR/RAE
24-Jan-2000 14:42 PM EDT (24-Jan-2000 1942 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
