Bush-Hu talks yield no breakthroughs

US President George W. Bush today appealed to China to allow more religious and political freedom and address his country’s concern ove...

US President George W. Bush today appealed to China to allow more religious and political freedom and address his country’s concern over the communist nation’s ballooning trade surplus with Washington, even as his counterpart hu jintao pledged to “unswervingly” press ahead with currency reform and take steps to reduce trade imbalance.

Bush, who kicked off his third visit to China by attending a service at gangwashi church, one of the five officially recognised protestant churches here, used the opportunity to call for more religious freedom in China.

“It wasn’t all that long ago that people were not allowed to worship openly in this society,” said Bush, accompanied by his wife, laura Bush and us secretary of state condoleezza rice, after the hour-long service.

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“My hope is that the government of China will not fear christians who gather to worship openly. A healthy society is a society that welcomes all faiths,” he said as the state-run Chinese media preferred not to telecast his anti-China remarks.

In the church’s guest book, Bush wrote “may god bless the christians of China.”

Following this, Hu hosted a tri-service ceremonial welcome for Bush at the great hall of the people in tiananmen square. The two leaders met amid increasing tension in Washington about China’s growing economic, military and diplomatic might.

PTI

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