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DATE=3/13/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228111
TITLE=U-S/CHINA/IRAN (L)
BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST
DATELINE=WHITE HOUSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CHINESE 
GOVERNMENT -- ACTING ON AN AMERICAN REQUEST -- HAS BLOCKED AN 
ATTEMPT BY IRAN TO ACQUIRE FROM CHINA A CHEMICAL USED IN MAKING 
NUCLEAR WEAPONS. VOA'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE WHITE 
HOUSE.
TEXT: MR. CLINTON SAYS CHINA MOVED TO BLOCK THE DISPUTED SALE 
AFTER A HIGH-LEVEL U-S COMPLAINT, AND THAT HE SEES THE EPISODE AS
SUPPORTING HIS POLICY OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CHINESE LEADERSHIP.
ACCORDING TO THE WASHINGTON POST, U-S INTELLIGENCE LEARNED 
THROUGH INTERCEPTED COMMUNICATIONS LATE LAST YEAR OF NEGOTIATIONS
BETWEEN A STATE-RUN CHINESE COMPANY AND IRANIAN OFFICIALS FOR THE
SALE TO IRAN OF HYDROFLOURIC ACID, WHICH IS USED TO REFINE 
URANIUM TO WEAPONS GRADE.
IT SAID THE ADMINISTRATION TOOK UP THE ISSUE IN A SERIES OF 
TOP-LEVEL CONTACTS WITH CHINESE AUTHORITIES, AND THAT U-S 
OFFICIALS ARE NOW CONFIDENT THE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR SALE WILL 
NOT GO FOWARD.
IN A TALK WITH REPORTERS AS HE BEGAN A MEETING FRIDAY WITH THAI 
PRIME MINISTER, CHUAN LEEKPAI, MR. CLINTON CONFIRMED THE OUTLINES
OF THE NEWSPAPER ACCOUNT AND SAID IT UNDERLINES THE VALUE OF 
DIALOGUE WITH CHINA:
                     ///CLINTON ACTUALITY///
         WE FOLLOWED THROUGH ON IT. THE CHINESE FOLLOWED THROUGH 
         ON IT AND KEPT THEIR AGREEMENT TO THE LETTER. SO I THINK
         THE REVELATION IN THE PAPER THIS MORNING IS FURTHER 
         SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSITION THAT WE SHOULD BE ENGAGED 
         WITH CHINA. THE PRIME MINISTER AND OTHER ASIAN LEADERS 
         WHO ARE FRIENDS OF THE UNITED STATES HAVE URGED US TO 
         BUILD A STRONGER, CONSTRUCTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH CHINA. 
         SO I AM WELL-PLEASED, ACTUALLY WITH THE WAY THAT ISSUE 
         CAME OUT.
                          ///END ACT///
MR. CLINTON SAID THE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CHINA AND IRAN WERE AT 
A LOW-LEVEL. WHILE THE CHEMICAL IN QUESTION HAS SEVERAL USES, MR.
CLINTON SAID THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVED THE SALE WOULD HAVE BEEN
INCONSISTENT WITH NON-PROLIFERATION ASSURANCES OFFERED BY CHINA 
DURING PRESIDENT JIANG ZEMIN'S WASHINGTON VISIT LAST OCTOBER.
THE PRESIDENT SAID HE IS MOVING UP -- FROM NOVEMBER TO JUNE -- 
HIS RETURN VISIT TO CHINA ON THE ADVICE OF HIS SENIOR ADVISERS IN
ORDER TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM FOR IMPROVED TIMES GENERATED AT 
THE OCTOBER SUMMIT.
HE CALLED CHINA'S ANNOUNCEMENT THURSDAY IT WILL SIGN THE U-N 
COVENANT ON CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS "A VERY SIGNIFICANT STEP 
FORWARD." (SIGNED)
NEB/DAG/KL
13-Mar-98 1:36 PM EST (1836 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.