Emphasis on friendship during Rice146;s China visit

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, under pressure to raise human rights and Tibet with Chinese officials, emphasised friendship over friction during a visit to China on Sunday.

After touching down in Chengdu, capital of quake-hit Sichuan province, Rice met with quake victims and toured a relief camp in Dujiangyan, a city hard hit by the May 12 quake which killed some 70,000 people.

I8217;m really impressed by the recovery effort. It is really a sign of how the human spirit can overcome great devastation, Rice told reporters. Washington has been a vocal critic of China8217;s human rights record, and urged China to continue talks with the Dalai Lama.