By Eun Lee Koh and Nima R. Taylor

HANOVER, New Hampshire, 12 February The Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Li Daoyu, praised China's economic progress and skirted questions on human rights and Tibet before a packed Dartmouth College auditorium on Tuesday night.

Li said 1997 is particularly significant for the Chinese because it marks the 19th year since Deng Xiaoping's revolution, which opened up business opportunities for the outside world, including the United States. "We have tried to transform [China's] economy into a social market economy and open its market to more international partners," he explained in at-times halting English. Since opening its market, China has rapidly integrated into the world market, Li said. Over the past 19 years, trade has grown from $20 billion to $290 billion.

In the 1980's, China's Gross National Product rose about eight percent and has been rising at 11 percent annually for the past six years. Li pointed out that life expectancy in China has doubled since 1945, going from 55 to 70. "With the income rising within the past years, our people's quality of life has improved steadily," Li said. "People are living much longer and are enjoying better lives."

Economic reform will remain China's top priority, the Ambassador said. In order to accomplish this, he noted, China will need full cooperation from all countries, including the US.

Sino-US relations must be based on a long-term perspective, Li declared, saying that China works to increase trust and cooperation, and reduce trouble and confrontation, but "it takes two to Tango" and the US must reciprocate. Li outlined five points which he saw as concerns shared by China and the US: Peace and stability of Asia, especially the APEC nations, and the Middle East, especially the Persian Gulf; a common responsibility as nuclear-capable nations; fighting international crime and drugs; protecting the global environment; and friendly cultural exchanges.

Addressing the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty, Li said "The cessation of Hong Kong for 150 years was a national shame, and this shame will be cleared. Hong Kong's return to the motherland has been a long-cherished wish of the Chinese people." As to possible reunification with Taiwan, Li said he doubts a peaceful reunification can occur until Taiwan accepts a "One China" policy. "Taiwan authorities have been going down the dangerous road of separation," he warned.

When asked about China's invasion and cultural genocide in Tibet, and how he thinks China's actions in Tibet will "affect China's drive to take its place as a respectable world leader," the Ambassador paused for a moment, frowning and tapping his fingers on the podium. He claimed that Tibet has been part of China since the 7th Century and that Tibetans enjoy "full development, full freedom" and a "fully autonomous status." He said that there were "some violations" of human rights during the Cultural Revolution, but that China is now respecting Tibet's religion and civilization, as evidenced by China's donations to monasteries, its efforts to publish books in the Tibetan language, and its promotion of ethnic dances and songs.

As the Dartmouth professor running the talk was about to read him the next question, the Ambassador snapped, "What, human rights?" Before the professor could respond, Li proceded to explain that the Chinese people have a different view of human rights, holding the family and society above the individual. "The most important human right in China is right to development," he said. "We have to feed, clothe, and house billions of people."

Li also addressed a question about the impact of China's development on the environment, particularly global warming. "We are aware of the warming-up question," he said, but pointed out that China is still behind the US in carbon dioxide emissions. China will meet its increasing energy needs with more coal, hydroelectric, and nuclear power plants, and China will be "looking forward to US assistance" on such projects, Li said.

"China will continue to develop friendly relations with all countries," Li affirmed. "It is always China's commitment that countries should respect each other, engage in peaceful cooperation, and work for common prosperity regardless of difference in ideology or culture."