Jiang backs Bush on terrorism, nukes

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- On the eve of his meeting with President George W. Bush, China's President Jiang Zemin Thursday pledged support on two issues key to the U.S. administration: terrorism and the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea.

Reading his speech in English but answering questions from the audience in Chinese, Jiang said terrorism and weapons of mass destruction "cause problems for peace and development worldwide."

China is one of seven countries confirmed to have nuclear weapons.

"China will continue to step up its cooperation with the U.S. on counter-terrorism," he said, adding terrorism is a "common scourge" for the entire world.

Jiang did not mention North Korea by name, but he pledged to work with China's allies in Pyongyang to stop the development of nuclear weapons. The United States announced last week that North Korea had told U.S. diplomats of its robust nuclear weapons program.

"It is critical to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction on the Korean peninsula," Jiang said.

Jiang spoke at the George Bush Presidential Library on the campus of Texas A&M University in College Station. He was introduced by former President George H.W. Bush, who referred to him as a "friend." The audience was largely major donors to the library, as well as a large contingent of Chinese reporters and Chinese government officials.

Security was extraordinary outside the auditorium. About 1,000 human rights demonstrators stood in a pounding rainstorm in a field surrounded by a chain link fence about 300 yards from the auditorium where Jiang spoke. Several dozen Texas state troopers stood shoulder to shoulder around the enclosure.

Many of the protesters said they were demonstrating against China's human rights policy, including its treatment of minorities and dissidents. Many said they were adherents of the Falun Gong movement, which has been outlawed in China.

Jiang also repeated his call for Taiwan to be peacefully reunited with China.

"A peaceful reunification of China would be conducive to peace in the region and the world," the Chinese president said.

Beijing regards Taiwan as a renegade province.

He added Taiwan could "maintain its economic system and its lifestyle" under a peaceful reunification, and could manage its economic and military affairs independent of Beijing.

"One country, two systems is our policy, and we hope the U.S. will stick to the right platform," he said.

During his meeting with Jiang Friday in Crawford, the president is expected to ask for China's support for an anti-Iraq resolution in the United Nations, as well as help convince North Korea to end its nuclear weapons development program.

China expert Thomas Bellows of the University of Texas San Antonio and editor of the influential American Journal of China Studies said he believes Bush will be successful.

"By the time Jiang leaves the U.S., he will have committed to support the United States in the U.N.," Bellows said.

Jiang has agreed to retire next year, in what would be the first peaceful transition of power in modern Chinese history.