U.S. and Hong Kong (2004)

State Department Noon Briefing, March 9, 2004

State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher briefed reporters at the noon briefing March 9.

Following is the transcript of the State Department briefing:

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U.S. Department of State
Daily Press Briefing
Tuesday, March 9, 2004
12:34 p.m. EST

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman

12:34 p.m. EST

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

QUESTION: Do you have any comment on the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister's visit?

MR. BOUCHER: Yes, let me give you a rundown of the discussions with Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo.

The Secretary and Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo talked about a number of bilateral and regional issues of common interest, including, I'd say, predominantly North Korea and Taiwan.

On North Korea, the Secretary thanked Vice Foreign Minister Dai for China's hosting and full participation in the second round of the six-party talks and for the positive role that China has played on the issue.

The Secretary said that the United States looks forward to working with China and other parties as we move toward the next round of talks.

On Taiwan, the Secretary stated that there has been no change in our one-China policy, which is based on the three joint communiqués and the Taiwan Relations Act.

The Secretary reiterated U.S. opposition to any attempt by either side to unilaterally change the status quo. He told Vice Minister Dai that the United States wants to see a peaceful resolution of the Cross-Strait issue and that the United States supports dialogue between the two sides toward that end.

I would note also that Deputy Secretary Armitage will meet with Vice Foreign Minister Dai later today and they will discuss a number of issues as well.

QUESTION: Is there any suggestion of any difference in approach between China and the U.S. in dealing with North Korea? It's all right that people working together have different approaches. These stories keep popping up that the Chinese would be a little bit more flexible than the U.S.

MR. BOUCHER: I don't think, first of all --

QUESTION: You don't have to explain the stories, --

MR. BOUCHER: We weren't there today to compare and contrast. We were there to talk about how we can move forward. The Chinese have ideas. We have ideas. We're trying to work together. The process of, I'd say, discussion of setting up the working group is underway between U.S. and Chinese diplomats and I assume between the Chinese and diplomats of other countries as well.

We are looking forward to another round, to trying to see what we can accomplish in the interim with the working group. And so that is kind of where we are. There are obviously going to be differences in approach for each of the parties. We each have our own position. But I think what was clear at the last round was that, at least for five of the parties, the focus and the direction of the talks needs to be the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear programs.

QUESTION: Right.

QUESTION: We understand Mr. Dai also met with Mr. Kelly yesterday. Can you tell us if there is any progress on the preparation of the working group?

MR. BOUCHER: At this point, all I can tell you is that there are diplomats meeting. People have been discussing how to do this, but there's nothing concrete at this point to announce.

Yeah, okay. Ma'am.

QUESTION: Did the issue of Hong Kong come up?

MR. BOUCHER: The issue of Hong Kong did come up briefly at the end.

Saul.

QUESTION: Did the issue of human rights come up? Did the Secretary say that the United States was leaning toward putting a resolution condemning China's rights at the UN?

MR. BOUCHER: I don't think the issue of human rights resolution came up at this meeting. There was a little private time at the end that I'm not sure about, but it didn't come up in the bigger sessions.

Okay. Where are we? Sir.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

(The briefing was concluded at 1:13 p.m.)

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