Get China right, Clinton tells U.S.

Clinton said it is imperative that China be granted entry into the WTO as soon as possible

In this story: WTO entry essential Broadening reach Plea for internet access, climate control RELATED STORIES

By CNN's Andrew Demaria
with Willy Lam

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- Acknowledging the recent strains on U.S.-Sino relations, former U.S. President Bill Clinton has urged the United States and China to become partners to create a more harmonious world.

VIDEO Clinton: The key to global interdependence is getting the China relationship right. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   Video Bill Clinton: The world will be a better place if the U.S. and China become partners. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

Speaking at the closing of a business forum in Hong Kong, Clinton told delegates that America has a fundamental interest in a stable Asia and the key is "getting the China relationship right."

"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," he said.

"Of course there will bumps in the road along the way," he said, highlighting the continuing U.S. spy plane saga, Taiwan, and the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade in 1999 -- something Clinton says he still "profoundly" regrets.

With global interdependence at the core of his speech, Clinton stressed that the U.S. and China needed to accept their differences and build on the relationship between "the world's oldest democracy and the world's oldest civilization and most populous country".

"The shared opportunities and the shared challenges will increasingly become even more important than our honest differences," he said.

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"And that interdependence requires us to continue to work for solutions and processes of relating to each together which in the parlance of game theory, are win-win, not win-lose."

WTO entry essential

Clinton said it was imperative that China be granted accession into the World Trade Organization (WTO) at "the earliest possible date", saying that its entry will expand growth and development in China and abroad.

"Getting China into the WTO and the rules based system of trade will, I believe, increase China's prosperity and its positive interdependence with the rest of the world in a way that will ensure the continued advance of prosperity, stability, and personal freedom."

Clinton's speech closed the forum that had been opened two days earlier by Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

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

During their meeting, 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, Jiang 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 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."

Jiang addresses the Fortune Forum in Hong Kong

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.

Plea for internet access, climate control

Clinton used his focus on interdependence to call for greater internet access among developing nations, arguing infrastructure would lead to more democracy, stabilized countries and an increase in economic growth.

"If we could figure out how to get a good internet connection and a world class printer with good, simple clear software in every village in every developing country in the world, the text book problem would be over and the quality of education would be doubled or tripled immediately -- and we would all be the richer for it," he said.

He also highlighted the need for education on HIV and AIDS to increase in underdeveloped countries and for the world to continue its battle with illegal narcotics.

During his passionate 30-minute speech, Clinton said that developing countries and developed countries alike needed to quickly work together to meet the challenge of climate change.

"If you look at the simple statistics, we are going to have serious, serious problems in the world in the next 30-50 years unless we do something to reduce greenhouse gases," he said.

Arguing that there are ways to generate higher rates of growth and still reduce greenhouse gases, Clinton said it was up to all countries, including the U.S., to ensure they take the right steps to control and reduce greenhouse emissions.

Clinton said technology was on the cusp of a major breakthrough into a energy conservation market valued at trillions of dollars.

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