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U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton broached the issue of human rights with Chinese leaders on Saturday, but emphasized that the global financial slump and other international crises were more pressing and immediate priorities.
The United States will continue to press China on issues such as Tibet, Taiwan and human rights, she told reporters accompanying her.“But our pressing on those issues can’t interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises,” she said.
Clinton made China the last and most crucial stopover in her Asia trip, signaling the new administration’s first attempts to lay a foundation toward a China policy. It is Clinton’s first trip to China as secretary of state. 
Watch Clinton talk to CNN about Asian tour »
She met with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday and discussed the framework for further high-level and mid-level discussions.
“It is essential that the United States and China have a positive, cooperative relationship,” Clinton told a group of reporters.
Earlier Saturday, Clinton met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing, where they discussed what they regard as the new defining Sino-U.S. strategic goals: the world economic crisis, regional security and the environment. Watch report on the talks »
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Human rights, a traditional topic in discussions between the two countries, was broached during Saturday’s meeting between Clinton and Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who agreed to engage in a continuous discussion on the issue.
Secretary Clinton said both nations will continue to hold frank discussions on crucial human rights issues, such as Tibet and freedom of expression in China. In the past, Clinton has been an outspoken, staunch critic of China’s human rights stance.
In a welcoming response, Yang said China was willing to discuss the often-contentious subject of human rights.
“Although differences exist, China is willing to conduct the dialogues with the U.S. to push forward the human rights situation on the premise of mutual respect and noninterference in each other’s internal affairs,” Yang was quoted by China’s state-run Xinhua news agency as saying…
