'Get China right,' Clinton tells U.S.

Clinton's talks with Jiang were 'friendly'

HONG KONG, China -- America has a fundamental interest in a stable Asia and the key is "getting the China relationship right," former U.S. President Bill Clinton says.

" . . . the shared opportunities and the shared challenges will eventually become more important than our honest differences," he told the Fortune Global Forum in Hong Kong on Thursday.

"America has a fundamental interest in promoting stability in Asia. The key is getting the China relationship right," he said.

AUDIO Bill Clinton: The world will be a better place if the U.S. and China become partners. 1.23MB/1:57min AIFF or WAV sound

"Getting China into the WTO, into a rules-based system of trade will increase China's prosperity, and its positive interdependence with the rest of the world."

Clinton's speech, with interdependence at its core, closed the forum that had been opened three days earlier by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

The two reportedly held a congenial hour-long meeting in Jiang's hotel on Wednesday.

“The shared opportunities and the shared challenges will eventually become more important than our honest differences,” Clinton told delegates.

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”Of course as always there are difficulties and bumps in the road in our relationship,” he said, possibly in reference to the continuing U.S. spy plane saga and the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 -- something Clinton says he still “profoundly” regrets.

”The important thing it seems to me is not to assume that the relationship is inherently adversarial but instead to take what we know is the truth -- that the world will be a better place over the next 50 years if we are partners, if we are working together.”

AUDIO Clinton: The key to global interdependence is getting the China relationship right. 1.10MB/1:45min AIFF or WAV sound

CNN's senior China Analyst, Willy Wo Lap Lam, reports that during their meeting the previous day, Jiang asked Clinton to pass along to the American people Beijing's commitment to good bilateral ties.

According to a source close to the Jiang entourage, he sought Clinton's views on Beijing's recent difficulties with Washington, but did not ask the former president to act as an "intermediary" with the administration of President George W. Bush.

Jiang left the territory on Wednesday, but Clinton stayed to address the closing ceremony of the forum.

"Jiang knows very well Clinton does not hold any brief for Bush, and Jiang will not ask Clinton to bear any message to the Bush White House," the source said.

"However, Jiang wants to get reactions from Clinton, who the Chinese think represents American sectors different from those that support Bush, on issues including the spy plane and the arms sales to Taiwan."

Broadening reach

It is understood Beijing wants to broaden its lobbying efforts in the U.S. to reach groups, including the business community and elements of the Democratic Party, deemed sympathetic to China during the eight-year Clinton administration.

An Asian diplomat in Hong Kong said Jiang and Clinton had only decided to have the meeting last week.

Jiang addresses the Fortune Forum in Hong Kong

"Jiang wants his meeting with Clinton to reflect his dissatisfaction with Bush's China policy," the diplomat said.

"At least until the Kosovo crisis in 1999, Jiang got along reasonably well with Clinton."

The official Xinhua news agency characterized the Jiang-Clinton talks as "friendly" but did not give details.

Clinton's spokesman, P.J.Crowley, said the former president carried no specific message for Bush.

"This is a private meeting. We're not going to say much. But he's not carrying a specific message from the Bush administration," Crowley said. At his opening speech at the Fortune Global Forum on Tuesday, Jiang made no mention of on-going difficulties with the U.S.

However, the president pointed out: "Nobody should be allowed to cause tension or armed conflict against the interests of the people."

"There are still in this world a few interest groups which always want to seek gains by creating tension here and there," Jiang added without elaboration.

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