U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has pressed Chinese leaders on
human rights issues and sanctions against Zimbabwe. But Rice had words of praise
for U.S.-China relations and Beijing's efforts in hosting talks to de-nuclearize
North Korea. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
Secretary Rice met separately with China's Premier
Wen Jiabao and President Hu Jintao on the last day of her two-day visit to
China.
The two sides had mainly good words for bilateral relations and
cooperation.
The Chinese leaders expressed thanks for American donations
and aid workers who helped victims of the Sichuan earthquake. Rice said such
grass root cooperation was essential to future relations.
"It is
important to have good relations, constructive relations between governments,
but relations between our peoples are what really sustain a U.S.-China
relationship well into the future," she said.
The highest-ranking U.S.
diplomat and Chinese leaders discussed a range of issues including Washington's
concerns about human rights in China.
Rice brought up the issue of
China's controls on the internet and jailing dissidents who speak out against
the government.
Rice had earlier said she would urge Chinese leaders to
support U.N. sanctions against Zimbabwe. The U.S. wants an arms embargo and
travel restrictions against the government of Robert Mugabe for suppressing
political opponents and their supporters.
But China gave no indication
it is willing to support the initiative.
Rice had earlier thanked Chinese
leaders for hosting talks on ending North Korea's nuclear program. North Korea
last week turned over a long overdue declaration of its nuclear program and
destroyed one of its nuclear facilities.
