WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Secretary of State Madeleine Albright vowed Friday to "tell it like it is" to China on human rights issues and the future of Hong Kong, but said U.S.-Chinese relations could not be held hostage to any one issue.

"I will tell it like it is on the human rights issues and on Hong Kong to the Chinese when I meet with them," she said at her first news conference since being sworn in as Warren Christopher's successor on Thursday.

Referring to the many issues in the U.S.-China relationship, Albright said: "It cannot be held hostage to any one issue." She cited what she called China's positive dealings with the United States on North Korea and Cambodia.

"But there are some on which we differ - and human rights is one of them," she said. "So we have made it clear that... what happens with Hong Kong is very importatnt to the overall relation."

Earlier this week, the Clinton administration voiced concern over China's handling of the leadup to Hong Kong's reversion to Chinese rule on June 30.

On another issue, Albright also stressed the U.S. desire for NATO enlargement, but also emphasized the need to resolve differences with Russia over this fractious issue.

"We believe that it is essential to enlarge NATO," Albright said. "We understand that the Russians have some problems with it. But what is clear is that both countries are committed to working this situation out and develping mutual understanding based on our national interests."

"I think it is very important as we look at our agenda over the next years to understand that our relationship with Russia, a good relationship with the Russian Federation, is paramount to our interests," she said. "I think that is evident to both countries.

Albright said an upcoming meeting set for February in Washington between high-level U.S. and Russian officials would go forward, despite Russian President Boris Yeltsin's recent health problems.

"We wish him well," Albright said of Yeltsin, "but ... clearly it is possible for us to do business with the Russian government and the (February) ... meeting is yet another example of that."