John King: Bush and Jiang project stability

John King

(CNN) -- During his final stop on his six-day diplomatic trek across East Asia, President Bush on Thursday met with China's President Jiang Zemin and discussed a wide range of issues, from weapons proliferation to the longstanding dispute over Taiwan.

CNN Senior White House Correspondent John King is traveling with Bush and gives this report from Beijing.

KING: There's a great deal of symbolism for this summit. It's only a day-and-a-half long, but it comes on the 30th anniversary of Richard Nixon's landmark trip here to establish the U.S.-China relationship.

So, there is a great deal of symbolism and a great deal of an effort by both leaders to portray an image of stability and maturity, making clear that yes, there are many differences between Washington and Beijing, but, yes, these two leaders say they can have candid discussions about them and make progress on areas where they do agree because of the strength now of this relationship.

Bush wanted most from this trip an agreement from China to curb dramatically its exports of missile technology and other sensitive military technologies, especially to countries like Iran and Pakistan. U.S. officials had hoped coming in they would get that agreement, but the United States side today made clear they would not get that deal while here.

China still is resisting adopting a very tough export law. Also, we are told, the sticking point [is that] China wants a grandfather clause, wants to be able to fulfill any existing contracts for weapons to other countries. So those negotiations continue.

At a joint news conference also, [there was] a remarkable display on the issue of religion and human rights.

Mr. Bush, in private conversations, we are told, urged President Jiang to open a dialogue with the Vatican and to open a dialogue with religious groups in this country who say they are being persecuted. And at that news conference in public, Mr. Bush said it was important that China press ahead and adopt more political and religious freedoms.

Twice, President Jiang simply ignored the question when U.S. reporters asked him about the issue of religious freedom, and specifically about the jailings of many Catholic bishops in this country.

But near the end of the news conference, he decided he would answer those questions. President Jiang defended the arrests, but also suggested that he had very little to do with the policy that landed those bishops in prison.

Mr. Bush looked on intently during that exchange, when President Jiang said he had no religious faith, but he had read the Bible, read the Koran, read other religious documents and scriptures. He said he met with religious leaders in this country. He insisted there was a great deal of respect here for religion in China. Obviously, though, that is one of the big differences between the president and his hosts here.

But overall, both leaders tried to downplay the differences, both choosing very muted language on the issue of Taiwan, a thorn in the relationship in the past.

President Jiang passed up an opportunity to publicly air his country's criticism about the U.S.'s tough posture toward Iraq and others.

Both leaders tried to project an image of stability, and as part of that effort Mr. Bush announced not only will President Jiang come to the United States later this year, but President Jiang leaves office next year. His heir apparent is the vice president, Hu Jintao. Mr. Jintao will meet Mr. Bush here in Beijing tomorrow and he also will pay a courtesy call on the White House before the year is out.