ACCESSION NUMBER:362807
FILE ID:POL110
DATE:10/03/94
TITLE:U.S., CHINA HAVE "CONGRUENT POSITIONS" ON NORTH KOREA (10/03/94)
TEXT:*94100310.POL
U.S., CHINA HAVE "CONGRUENT POSITIONS" ON NORTH KOREA
(Christopher confers with Chinese foreign minister) (500)
By Russell E. Dybvik
USIA Diplomatic Correspondent
Washington -- The United States and China have "congruent positions" with
respect to North Korea, Secretary of State Christopher said October 3.

"We want to work very closely with the Chinese in dealing with the nuclear
problem presented by North Korea," Christopher told reporters at a photo
opportunity with visiting Chinese Vice Premier and Foreign Minister Qian
Qichen at his side.  "Up to this point, we have had a good exchange and, I
think, have congruent positions with respect to North Korea."

At his regular daily news briefing, State Department Spokesman Michael
McCurry accepted one reporter's definition of "congruent" as "going in the
same direction, but not identical."  He called it "a perfect
characterization of the respective views of China and the United States on
this question."

High-level talks in Geneva between the United States and North Korea on the
nuclear issue are scheduled to resume October 5 after a brief recess to
1llow delegation leaders to consult with their governments.

"There has not been significant progress made" in the most recent round of
discussions, McCurry told reporters.

Sino-U.S. relations are "at a critical juncture of building on the past to
usher in the future," Qichen told reporters.  "We have a good opportunity
to push our relations to a new era of development."  He met later with
President Clinton, Vice President Gore and other administration leaders.

"China's policy on arms sales is a very reasonable one," the foreign
minister told questioners.  "China does not engage in the proliferation of
weapons of mass destruction which may produce instability and conflict in
the regions concerned.

"We abide by three principles with regards to arms trade.  All the transfers
of arms must contribute to the legitimate defense capabilities of the
countries concerned.  Secondly, they should be conducive to regional peace
and stability.  And thirdly, they cannot be transferred to any third
country without China's consent."

Asked about the transfer of ballistic missile technology to Pakistan, which
last year prompted the United States to impose sanctions against specific
organizations in both China and Pakistan, he said China abides by the
guidelines and parameters of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
with regard to missile transfers.

Christopher and Qichen discussed a wide range of issues, including human
rights and Taiwan, McCurry said.  "In each one of these cases, there has
been a series of high-level exchanges between the Chinese and the United
States.

"There's been a good deal of very patient diplomacy on each of them,
including human rights," he said.  While there were no "startling
breakthroughs" in the meeting with the Chinese vice premier, the spokesman
said, "there was evidence of a desire ...(by) both parties to address the
differences that do exist in the relationship and to build on some of the
success we've had in addressing mutual concerns."

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