CHINESE LEADER ARRIVES IN L.A.

Byline: Denise Levin Associated Press 

Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday to hobnob with political and business leaders anxious to court the state's sixth-largest trading partner.

Jiang, on an eight-day U.S. tour, arrived in Los Angeles at 5:45 p.m. and was scheduled to return to Beijing on Monday morning.

During his 36-hour visit, Jiang is scheduled to meet privately with Gov. Pete Wilson and Mayor Richard Riordan, talk to business leaders and the Asian-American community, and tour Hughes Electronics.

The formal events revolved around Southern California's desire to benefit from the expanding Pacific Rim trade. But Jiang was expected to be dogged by protests over China's human rights conditions.

The protests began early as demonstrators awaited Jiang's arrival Saturday night at the Century Plaza Hotel, with one hoisting a sign: ``If this were China, we would be dead.''

The crowd outside the hotel grew steadily through the evening, finally with hundreds of protesters carrying signs that urged China to ``Free Tibet,'' stop any traffic in human organs that may be occurring, leave Taiwan alone and grant greater freedoms. Two busloads of demonstrators from the Free Tibet organization joined dozens of others making a noisy protest.

Paula Marie, 43, of Las Vegas said that after traveling in China and Tibet she was horrified by the government's oppression. She said she hoped such incidents as the June 1989 military crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square will someday end.

``We hope that slowly the germ of freedom will spread throughout the country of China,'' Marie said.

One group of students said they were the Amnesty International chapter of Newbury Park High School in Thousand Oaks. Ron Hertz, their teacher-adviser, said he accompanied them on his day off because ``these students . . . are exceedingly idealistic and much more concerned about the world today than most students.''

Jiang's arrival at the Los Angeles International Airport, however, was more peaceful, with Jiang being greeted by a host of dignitaries, including Riordan. A handful of supporters standing behind metal barricades waved Chinese flags.

While Wilson and Riordan planned to talk trade with Jiang during private meetings today, Wilson said he also planned to raise human rights concerns by conveying that free expression is a catalyst for economic growth.

Riordan planned to deliver ``a commercial for Los Angeles'' during his meeting with Jiang, opting to leave the human rights issues to other levels in government, said spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez.

``He wants to talk about the ties we already have and how Los Angeles is expanding our harbor and airport to bring in more trade,'' Rodriguez said Friday.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his wife Wang Yeping wave to the crowd at LAX.

(2) Nian Aster of Culver City, center, holds a protest pumpkin at a rally in Century City.

Associated Press