Bush Voices Concerns To China

China's Hu Jintao Tells Bush Both Nations Can Cope With 'Frictions'

(CBS/AP) 
No questions from the press were permitted during the joint appearance by Bush and Hu, so the U.S. president's give-and-take with reporters on his own was scheduled later in part to make a point about press freedom.

Bush said he pressed Hu for fairer treatment of non-governmental charity organizations that operate in China and suggested that the Chinese invite the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, and Roman Catholic leaders to China to discuss religious freedom.

Bush's first public event during his visit was a worship service at Gangwashi Church, one of five officially recognized Protestant churches in Beijing.

"It is important that social, political and religious freedoms grow in China," the president said at Hu's side.

Later, Bush said pressing for religious freedom was a good way to ensure that other freedoms follow.

"They go hand in hand. A society which recognizes religious freedom is a society which will recognize political freedom as well," he said. "President Hu is a thoughtful fellow, and he listened to what I had to say."

China's massive trade surplus is a political headache for Bush. As the president opened his visit, U.S. officials spread word that Beijing was buying 70 737 planes from Chicago-based Boeing Co.

The administration said the purchase was "a testament to how our approach to China is yielding real results." But in a joint appearance with Hu, Bush said China needs to do more to provide fair opportunities for American farmers and businesses seeking access to China's market. Later, Bush specifically cited a desire to sell U.S. beef in China.

He said China also needs to work harder to protect intellectual property rights. Piracy of U.S. movies, computer programs and other copyright material is rampant in China. Rice suggested that China is beginning to take the problem more seriously, and that Hu talked about specific steps to crack down on piracy.

Bush is pressing China to quickly revalue its currency, the yuan, which U.S. companies contend is undervalued by as much as 40 percent, making Chinese goods cheaper in the United States and American goods more expensive in China.

"We've seen some movement but not much in the currency valuation," Bush said.

Hu promised Bush that China will move to reduce its trade imbalance with the United States, but he did not discuss any specific steps.

He said China was willing to step up protection for intellectual property and would "unswervingly" press ahead with currency reform.

The two leaders readily acknowledged differences but stressed cooperation in preventing and controlling bird flu and persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear ambitions.