USA: Chinese President faces further protests on second day of visit to the United States.

Record ID: 872636

  • Title: USA: Chinese President faces further protests on second day of visit to the United States.
  • Date: 23rd April 2006
  • Summary: HU WAVING TO AUDIENCE
  • Embargoed: 8th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9M8PTKZ812T6QR2ECGTUIM81G
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Chinese President Hu Jintao was confronted by more demonstrations on the second day of his visit to the United States.
    On a trip to Yale University in Connecticut on Friday (April 21) rival groups staged a noisy protest.
    China's crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement was a focal point for many of the demonstrators.
    One woman said she'd travelled from Sweden to protest. She wanted to call attention to human rights abuses in China saying "they have been killing a lot of Chinese people and no words can be heard in China."
    During his visit to the University campus Hu reassured students China's rapid development was not a threat.
    Talks the previous day with U.S. President George W. Bush were marred by gaffes and they failed to bridge gaps over the chinese currency or on how to resolve nuclear disputes with Iran and North Korea.
    In a speech to the Yale students, Hu highlighted the doctrine of "peaceful development" which Beijing has put forth to allay fears about its growing economic and military clout.
    "China's development will not compromise the interests of anyone, nor will China's development threaten anyone."
    He later added China was "ready and willing to draw upon the useful experience of foreign countries in the field of political development. On the other hand, we will not simply copy the political models of other countries."
    As Hu entered the Yale campus in Connecticut, his final stop before flying on to Saudi Arabia, about 4,000 mostly ethnic Chinese detractors and supporters of China's communist government staged rival demonstrations.
    About 2,000 pro-China demonstrators, including ethnic Chinese women in silk red and white outfits, waved Chinese flags, danced and banged drums to welcome Hu.
    Among the crowd were Taiwan nationalists waving green flags and Tibetan youth groups.
    The Taiwan activists reject China's demand that the self- governing island democracy reunite with the mainland, while the Tibetan protesters want an end to chinese rule there.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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