AFP+Reuters: China wants US to take firm steps to improve ties

[Dao Van <daotb@yahoo.com>]

SEP 25 1999

China wants US to take firm steps to improve ties

Minister says Beijing still rejects US explanation that bombing of
Chinese embassy in Belgrade was a mistake

NEW YORK -- Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan has demanded
"concrete" steps from the United States to improve long-strained Sino-US
relations. 

"We hope the US side will take concrete
actions to promote the recovery, improvement and the further development
of the China-US relationship," he told a joint press conference here
with his US counterpart, Mrs Madeleine Albright. 

"The current China-US relationship faces
opportunities as well as challenges.  At the same time, there are
obstructions that should not exist," the top Chinese diplomat said on
Thursday, ahead of the meeting with Mrs Albright on the sidelines of the
UN General Assembly. 

He cited the Nato bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in May,
strains over Taiwan, and allegations of Chinese spying at US nuclear
laboratories as obstacles to improved ties. 

He made it clear that Beijing still rejected the US explanation that the
embassy bombing had been a mistake. 

Washington should "take effective measures to remove the serious impact
the bombing of the Chinese embassy had on this relationship", he said. 

Mr Tang also demanded an end to arms sales to Taiwan and pressed
Washington to distance itself clearly from comments by Taipei President
Lee Teng-hui in July which were seen by Beijing as a push for
independence for the island. 

"We hope the US will face the dangerous
nature of his separatist remarks squarely... 
" he stressed.

He also rejected allegations of Chinese spying on American nuclear
laboratories a day after the Federal Bureau of Investigation in
Washington announced that it was expanding its investigation into the
case.  Mrs Albright, meanwhile, thanked China for "good cooperation"
between Washington and Beijing during the East Timor crisis. 

"Obviously, there are subjects on which
there are differences," she added. 

On the Chinese embassy bombing, Mrs Albright said: "I can only repeat
that it was a mistake and make very clear how sorry we are."

She also reaffirmed Washington's commitment to a "one-China policy". 

A senior US official said later that during the 90-minute meeting
between the two top-ranking officials, Mr Tang never raised the bombing
issue. 

The official said "we suspect they are hoping to put pressure on us in
the WTO talks as a result of the bombing to change our substantive
position".  -- AFP, Reuters


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