BEIJING, Feb 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said today the United States and China can pull the world out of economic crisis by working together and made clear this took precedence over U.S. concerns about human rights in China.
Making her first visit to China as secretary of state, Clinton took a softer line on Chinese political and religious freedoms than in a 1995 Beijing speech in which she openly criticised the Chinese government's human rights record.
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| Clinton speaks during a visit to a Beijing power plant yesterday. AFP |
Speaking at a news conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Clinton said the two would have "frank discussions on issues where we have disagreements, including human rights, Tibet, religious freedom and freedom of expression."
However, she suggested their joint efforts to spur growth in the face of the global financial crisis, to curb global climate change and to address security challenges like North Korea's nuclear weapons program came first.
"World events have given us a full and formidable agenda," she said. "As we tackle it, the United States is committed to pursuing a positive, cooperative relationship with China, one that we believe is important to future peace, progress and prosperity for both countries and for the world."
Making her final stop on a one-week Asian trip that has also taken her to Tokyo, Jakarta and Seoul, Clinton has stressed how intertwined are the U.S. and Chinese economies.
The United States is one of the largest buyers of Chinese exports while China, with foreign exchange reserves of about $2 trillion, is the world's largest holder of U.S. government debt.
"I appreciate greatly the Chinese government's continuing confidence in United States Treasuries. I think that's a well grounded confidence," Clinton said. "We have every reason to believe that the United States and China will recover and that together we will help to lead the world recovery."
Asked if China might someday rethink its purchases of U.S. Treasuries, Yang provided little direction, saying only that China makes decisions on how to invest its foreign exchange reserves so as to ensure their safety, value and liquidity.
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