DEPARTMENT OF STATE
January 27, 1997
INTERVIEW OF SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE K. ALBRIGHT
BY TIM RUSSERT AND ANDREA MITCHELL
NBC-TV "MEET THE PRESS"
Washington, D.C.
... ... ...
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: I am going to make very clear, as I speak to the Chinese, whenever I do, and as I said, I'm going to tell it like it is, that human rights, political rights, civil liberties in China, that civil liberties in Hong Kong are very important to us.
But I think the important point here, Tim, is that our relationship with China has to be a multi-faceted relationship. They are going to be a key relationship as we move into the 21st Century. We cannot hold our relationship hostage to one issue, whether it be human rights or trade. We have a huge number of issues to discuss with the Chinese. When I meet with them, I will be discussing all those issues.
We all have to get used to the fact that dealing with the Chinese involves a lot of different factors. They are very important to us as we move forward.
MR. RUSSERT: Will you also ask them to stop selling missiles and technology to Iran?
SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: We are obviously concerned about what is going on in terms of missile transfer. I think, obviously, I will be discussing that.
But let me also make the following point that somehow is missed sometimes. The Chinese have been very cooperative on a series of issues that are important to us on North Korea, on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. They are very interested in controlling drugs, terrorism. So, as I said, we have to develop this balanced approach to what is going on with China.
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