07 April 2000
Transcript: Sec. Daley at Close of China Commerce Meeting Plenary
(China NTR vote seen as referendum on Clinton China policy) (850) U.S. Commerce Secretary William M. Daley acknowledged that the upcoming Congressional vote on granting permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status to China has become something of a referendum on the Clinton Administration's policy on China. "This vote is about the overall [U.S.-China] relationship, not just the economic relationship with China," Daley said while fielding questions from reporters at the close of the plenary session of the 13th China-U.S. Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade in Beijing April 7. He added that, in meetings with the Chinese president and premier, "We have brought up the fact that there are a whole host of issues beyond the economics of PNTR that are being raised by Members of Congress, and we are dealing with them." Daley said the Administration strongly believes that China's "continuing opening and change will help not only the economic relationship, but the other relationships and political issues, like human rights, that are important to us." While the Administration cannot guarantee that Congress will vote in favor of PNTR for China, Daley said, "We are confident that when the people see the benefits to PNTR, that the Congress will pass it." Following is a transcript of the question-and-answer session: (begin transcript) Questions Taken by Secretary William M. Daley at the Close of the JCCT Plenary Beijing, China April 7, 2000 Q: What is the U.S. side going to do to be sure that the PNTR will be passed by the U.S. Congress? Secretary Daley: Well, President Clinton is strongly committed and has spent a tremendous amount of time over the past two-and-a-half months on the issue of getting our Congress to pass Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Our entire administration is engaged in this debate and we are having many activities in Washington. The President has met with almost a hundred members of the House of Representatives. He has given numerous speeches to the American people, and we will continue that activity. I will be coming back next week with a group of undecided members of the House. And two weeks from now, Secretary Glickman will come with another group of undecided members of the House, to let them have an opportunity to meet with the leaders of the Chinese government, the private sector, academics, and other Chinese people, to talk about the changes and the commitments that have been made to implement WTO. So we are working very, very hard. Our system is such that the executive branch does not guarantee this, but we are confident that when the people see the benefits to PNTR, that the Congress will pass it. Q: The PNTR issue has become sort of a referendum in the United States on China policy, with human rights and China's alleged human rights issue sort of at the center piece of it. Given the prominence of that in the debate, have you told your Chinese hosts, or advised them on improving efforts on their human rights record, so they can get this trade status? Daley: Our belief is that human rights should be improved not just because of PNTR but because we should treat our people better than we have historically all treated people. So, the emphasis on our part, often, on human rights is not just about PNTR. But that is an issue of great concern to the American people. It is an issue of concern, and our Secretary of State has talked about that in Geneva, and it is an issue that I am sure Members of Congress will raise when they are here, and will raise in the debate. But this vote is about the overall relationship, not just the economic relationship with China. And to encourage and see the changes that are going on in China. And the commitments made under the WTO agreement are rather substantial. And we believe, strongly believe, that that continuing opening and change will help not only the economic relationship, but the other relationships and political issues, like human rights, that are important to us. Q: What did you bring up in your meetings with Mr. Zhu and President Jiang? Daley: We have brought up the fact that there are a whole host of issues beyond the economics of PNTR that are being raised by Members of Congress, and we are dealing with them. And President Clinton is dealing with them in a very up-front and open way. Q: Have you had any assurances from Premier Zhu Rongji on CDMA [Code Division Multiple Access/digital wireless transmission]? Daley: Once again, Zhu Rongji mentioned his strong - as did Mr. Shi - his strong belief that CDMA is a technology that should be available in China, and their commitment to see it being available, and we believe them, and we are hopeful that that will happen very shortly. (end transcript) (Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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