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CNN Live At Daybreak
Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly Meets With Chinese Officials
Aired January 15, 2003 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's switch gears and talk about North Korea now. Could China hold the key to end the nuclear crisis with North Korea? That's what Washington is hoping for, as talks go on between Chinese officials and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly.
I want to go to our Lisa Rose Weaver, who's live in Beijing.
They've been talking all day?
LISA ROSE WEAVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, all day. Assistant Secretary of State Kelly really didn't say very much about exactly what he intended to bring up with his Chinese counterpart hours ago when he went into the talks. However, what's surely likely to figure in is Beijing's offer to host any talks between the United States and North Korea, if and when that happens.
Now, this is quite significant, because for the last several weeks, it's really been unclear exactly what China's leverage on its ally in North Korea has been. They're long-term ideological allies. The assumption is that China would really have some weight. Now, apparently, it has come to fruit.
Now, talks are very important to China as the host, because it is the direct route to stability on the Korean peninsula. And the reason that that, from the Chinese perspective, is important is if there is to be no economic dislocation and more refugees fleeing North Korea into China, well, China bears the brunt of that. So, surely a welcome note from Beijing on the prospect of hosting talks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Lisa Rose Weaver live from Beijing. And just so you know, it's 7:09 p.m. in Beijing.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Chinese Officials>
Aired January 15, 2003 - 06:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's switch gears and talk about North Korea now. Could China hold the key to end the nuclear crisis with North Korea? That's what Washington is hoping for, as talks go on between Chinese officials and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly.
I want to go to our Lisa Rose Weaver, who's live in Beijing.
They've been talking all day?
LISA ROSE WEAVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Carol, all day. Assistant Secretary of State Kelly really didn't say very much about exactly what he intended to bring up with his Chinese counterpart hours ago when he went into the talks. However, what's surely likely to figure in is Beijing's offer to host any talks between the United States and North Korea, if and when that happens.
Now, this is quite significant, because for the last several weeks, it's really been unclear exactly what China's leverage on its ally in North Korea has been. They're long-term ideological allies. The assumption is that China would really have some weight. Now, apparently, it has come to fruit.
Now, talks are very important to China as the host, because it is the direct route to stability on the Korean peninsula. And the reason that that, from the Chinese perspective, is important is if there is to be no economic dislocation and more refugees fleeing North Korea into China, well, China bears the brunt of that. So, surely a welcome note from Beijing on the prospect of hosting talks -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Lisa Rose Weaver live from Beijing. And just so you know, it's 7:09 p.m. in Beijing.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Chinese Officials>
