BEIJING, Feb. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, during a visit to China, says she hopes Chinese leaders will help urge North Korea to continue its denuclearization.
Rice arrived in Beijing Tuesday for meetings with Chinese leaders. During a news conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Rice said she hoped China would exert its influence to "convince the North Koreans it is time to move forward" toward dismantling its nuclear facilities, the Voice of America reported.
Under a stalled multi-country agreement, North Korea had agreed to provide a complete accounting of its nuclear programs by the end of 2007. In return for the listing, the country would receive fuel oil and other aid and be removed from U.S. list of terrorist sponsors.
U.S. officials said the information provided so far is unacceptable.
Concerning a one-China policy, Rice said the United States would oppose the proposed "referendum on Taiwan's U.N. membership," Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.
"Well, Taiwan is a democratic entity that will have to make its own decisions," she said. "But we've been very clear that we think this referendum is not going to help anyone and, in fact, it shouldn't be held."
