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CNN Sunday Morning

State Department Reports Positive Signs From China

Aired April 08, 2001 - 10:24   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.
BRIAN NELSON, CNN ANCHOR: We're going to quickly take you to the U.S. State Department where CNN's Andrea Koppel is standing by with news of what I think are more meetings in the China-U.S. standoff. Andrea?

ANDREA KOPPEL, CNN STATE DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENT: Brian, well, the diplomacy is continuing. State Department officials say that in the last several hours the U.S. ambassador to China, Joseph Prueher, has had a couple of meetings over at the foreign ministry. Now, the fact that these meetings are still taking place is a positive sign. There was a period earlier this week, you'll remember, when there weren't very many meetings and the U.S. believes the Bush administration has been trying to keep the channels of communication going.

It's also understanding that the White House says that President Bush is himself drafting a letter to the widow of that fighter pilot whose body has as yet to be discovered. There are no meetings right now planned at the State Department, Brian, but State Department officials say that the statements that were made earlier today by China's defense minister, in the words of one senior State Department official, were not helpful -- Brian.

NELSON: Alright, Andrea. Thank you for the update. Andrea Koppel at the State Department.

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