Published by: World Tibet Network News Sunday, October 19, 1997

WASHINGTON, October 19, 1887 (AP) - Chinese President Jiang Zemin says he hopes to raise Chinese-Americans relations ``to a new level'' on an upcoming visit to the United States.

In an interview with The Washington Post conducted Friday in Shanghai, Jiang urged Americans to tolerate China's political systems and seek ``common ground despite differences.''

He also said China and the United States ``share the responsibility for preserving world peace and stability.''

The interview appears in the Post's Sunday's editions, a week before Jiang leaves on for an official state visit to the United States. The trip includes a stop in Hawaii to lay a wreath at a memorial for U.S. soldiers killed in the 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, a news conference with President Clinton, several television interviews and a speech at Harvard University.

The Post quoted unidentified Chinese and American officials as outlining a series of initiatives, including a pledge by China to end sales of anti-ship cruise missiles to Iran, that will be discussed by Jiang and Clinton at the White House.

The report said the two countries will sign an accord pledging coordination to avoid naval incidents at sea and probably will agree to implement a 1985 agreement on nuclear cooperation that would allow U.S. companies to sell China nuclear power plants and equipment.

The Post said Jiang, 71, read from a prepared text at times during the interview, interspersed his comments in Russian and English and quoted a line from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as well as quoting from Chinese proverbs.

``The theory of relatively worked out by Mr. (Albert) Einstein, which is in the domain of natural science, I believe can also be applied to the political field,'' Jiang told the newspaper. ``Both democracy and human rights are relative concepts and not absolute and general.''

At another point, the Chinese president said: ``We have to seize this opportunity to promote understanding between our two countries. No matter how telecommunications develop, they cannot replace face-to-face talks. They are very important for carrying out an exchange of feelings and sentiments.''

Turning to Tibet, Jiang referred to the Gettysburg Address, which he often quotes in public, and said:

``Lincoln was a remarkable leader, particularly in liberating the slaves in America. When it comes to slavery in China, most of China got rid of slavery long ago, except in Tibet, where it was not until the (spiritual leader) Dalai Lama left that we eliminated serfdom. ... The impression I get is that you (Americans) are undoubtedly opposes to slavery, yet you support the Dalai Lama.''