Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Bush in China: No Deal on Proliferation

Aired February 21, 2002 - 06:30   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: There was agreement and there was disagreement in today's U.S.-China summit.

CNN's Kelly Wallace is traveling with the president and has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KELLY WALLACE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: President Bush came here hoping to convince the Chinese to stop selling missile technologies to countries like North Korea and Iran. Aides hinted there was a possibility a deal could be struck here, but in the end, there was no agreement. Instead, some fascinating theater as Chinese President Jiang Zemin could not escape questions about contiguous issues such as religious freedoms.

During a news conference inside The Great Hall of the People across from Tiananmen Square, an American reporter asked about the imprisonment of Catholic bishops. Mr. Jiang did not answer and then did not answer a second time. Finally in an surprising move at the end of the session, President Jiang decided to speak up saying his country's constitution allows for the practice of religion, but said that does not supersede following the law.

JIANG ZEMIN, PRESIDENT OF CHINA (through translator): Some of the lawbreakers have been detained because of their violation of law, not because of their religious belief.

WALLACE: Candid (ph) was the buzz word of the talks between the two men meaning deep differences remain, the visit loaded with symbolism coming exactly 30 years after President Nixon's groundbreaking trip to China. Mr. Bush's principle goal, getting China's help in the campaign against terrorism. While he failed to get China to take steps to ban the sell of certain arms and technology, the president did say he asked for help when it comes to North Korea.

GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If he speaks to the leader of North Korea, he can assure him that I am sincere in my desire to have our folks meet. My point is that not every theater in the war against terror need be resolved with force.

WALLACE: Friday the last event of the president's Asian tour speaking to the next generation, China's version of MIT and meeting with the next generation Vice President Hu, who takes over as China's president next year.

Kelly Wallace, CNN, Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com