<DOC docid="VOM19981003_0800_2179" sysid="ta0">
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<seg id=1> Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan delivered a speech on US-China relations in a joint press conference on the 29th with US Secretary of State Albright. </seg>
<seg id=2> Tang Jiaxuan also noted that President Clinton's sex scandal was an internal affair of the United States and that China will never forget President Clinton's contributions in promoting Sino-American friendship. </seg>
<seg id=3> Following is the report by VOA correspondent Zhou Youkang from the press conference: </seg>
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<seg id=4> Dear Listeners: US President Clinton met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan at the White House at 11:30 am on September 29. </seg>
<seg id=5> US Secretary of State Albright announced the meeting between President Clinton and Tang Jiaxuan in the joint press conference held at noon by Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and the US State Department. </seg>
<seg id=6> Albright said </seg>
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<seg id=7> I'm very glad to tell you that just now Foreign Minister Tang and President Clinton held a meeting and they announced that China will sign the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights on October 5 in New York. </seg>
<seg id=8> Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said at the press conference that the meeting with Clinton was of profound significance. </seg>
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<seg id=9> His Excellence President Clinton met with me and I think the meeting is fruitful. </seg>
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<seg id=10> Now President Clinton is in great trouble, some Americans have expressed their strong complaints and criticism over his sex scandal. </seg>
<seg id=11> Some want to impeach him or expect him to step down. Even some Democratic congressmen want to make a clean break with him. </seg>
<seg id=12> However, Chinese Foreign Minister didn't avoid this and spoke highly of President Clinton's contribution to the promotion of Sino-US relations. </seg>
<seg id=13> At the Press Conference, asked if President Clinton's sex scandal will affect Sino-US relations, </seg>
<seg id=14> Tang Jiaxuan said: </seg>
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<seg id=15> I think this is absolutely an internal affair of the United States. </seg>
<seg id=16> I never think this will bring any effect to the development of China relations. </seg>
<seg id=17> President Clinton has made valuable contributions to the development of Sino-American relations and we will never forget that. </seg>
<seg id=18> Personally, I sincerely hope that the Sino-US relations will move forward in a tangible and stable manner based on the three communiques of the two countries and the joint declaration of the two leaders this time. </seg>
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<seg id=19> The Chinese government has restated that Taiwan is one of its provinces and the Taiwan issue is an internal affair of China. </seg>
<seg id=20> Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan talked about the Taiwan issue publicly several times in the UN General Assembly and during his visit to Washington. </seg>
<seg id=21> Asked about what is the largest barrier to the Sino-US strategic partnership, Tang Jiaxuan said: </seg>
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<seg id=22> I have repeated several times in this regard that special attention must be paid to the proper handling of the Taiwan issue. </seg>
<seg id=23> Because the Taiwan issue is the most sensitive and the most realistic issue in Sino-US relations. </seg>
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