CHINA VISIT YIELDS RESULTS.

Byline: Walter Mears Associated Press 

President Clinton and Chinese President Jiang Zemin agreed Saturday that they would no longer target nuclear weapons at each other's country.

``Our friendship may never be perfect . . . but I hope it will last forever,'' said Clinton after a day of superpower summitry.

With the Chinese and American flags at their sides, the two leaders spoke in the Western Hall of the Great Hall of the People after several hours of summit talks. The session before reporters - broadcast live on television in China and the United States - lasted more than an hour.

It included a spirited exchange of differing views over Tibet, human rights and the 1989 crackdown on democracy demonstrators in and around Tiananman Square.

Near the end, Jiang said he welcomed the ``very friendly'' discussions and abandoning his interpreter he added in English, ``This is democracy.''

Asked about Beijing's detention of pro-democracy dissidents in Xi'an as Clinton's tour began, Jiang said local authorities had taken measures to handle activities that were ``detrimental'' to security. ``In China we have our laws,'' he said.

Clinton raised the issue with Jiang and said later there had been progress in the release of Chinese dissidents but noted others were still incarcerated. ``I believe we are making progress,'' he said.

In blunt terms, Jiang denied year-old allegations that China may have funneled financial contributions to Clinton's political campaigns.

``I really think it's very absurd and ridiculous and I think they are sheer fabrications. China can never do such a thing and China never interferes in other countries' internal affairs,'' he said, adding that his government had conducted a ``very earnest investigation'' which concluded that ``there was never such a thing.''

Tiananmen Square 

Recalling his formal welcome Saturday morning in Tiananmen Square, Clinton recited the long history of the huge plaza which stands in Americans' minds as a symbol of China's repression of a popular pro-democracy uprising in 1989.

``There, nine years ago, Chinese citizens of all ages raised their voices for democracy,'' Clinton said. ``For all of our agreements, we still disagree about the meaning of what happened then,'' he added. ``I believe and the American people believe the use of force and the tragic loss of life was wrong.''

Even so, Clinton made clear he wants to press ahead with closer ties to the communist regime. ``Our friendship may never be perfect. No friendship is, but I hope it will last forever,'' he said.

Jiang noted that Clinton had raised the matter of the Tiananmen crackdown, which he called ``political disturbances.'' He recalled what he had said about this last fall during his U.S. visit. ``I have stated our position that with regard to the political disturbances in 1989, had the Chinese government not taken the resolute measures, then we could not have enjoyed the stability that we are enjoying today.''

Need for freedom

Clinton replied in a discourse that ``stability in the 21st century will require high levels of freedom.'' Acknowledging that ``any system can be abused,'' he said it is a mistake ``if you limit people's freedom too much.''

``We must understand and respect the enormous challenges China has faced in trying to move forward against great odds with a clear memory of the setbacks suffered in past periods of instability,'' he said.

On trade, China did not win U.S. support for joining the World Trade Organization, but another round of talks was scheduled for the week of July 20 in Geneva.

``I regret we did not make more progress on this front. We must recommit ourselves to achieving that goal on strong terms,'' Clinton said without elaborating.

In opening their joint appearance, Jiang announced the detargeting agreement and said it ``demonstrates the United States and China are partners, not adversaries.'' He said China will not be the first to use nuclear weapons ``under any circumstances,'' but did not win a reciprocal declaration from Clinton. ``We have not changed our position,'' Clinton said, ``nor are we prepared to do so.''

The presidents expressed satisfaction with the relationship between China and the United States.

Constant progress

``We will make constant progress in the direction of building a strategic partnership between China and the United States'' as the nations move toward the 21st century,'' Jiang said.

``As China and the United States have different social systems, ideologies, values and cultural traditions, we have some difference of views on certain issues. However, they should not become the obstacles in the way of the growth of China-U.S. relations. . . . The development paths of the countries of the world should be chosen by the peoples of the countries concerned.''

The Chinese leader said the issue of Taiwan is an important and sensitive one and that the United States must stick to its policy of recognizing only one legitimate Chinese government ``in the interest of a smooth growth'' in U.S.-China relations.

Clinton reaffirmed the U.S. ``one China'' policy which opposes independence for Taiwan, and he encouraged more direct talks between Taipei and Beijing.

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Photo

PHOTO Chinese President Jiang Zemin points out a landmark to President Clinton during arrival ceremonies Saturday in Beijing.

Scott Applewhite/Associated Press