Published by: World Tibet Network News Issue Id: 97/10/28

UNITED NATIONS, 10/28 (AP) -- As Chinese President Jiang Zemin begins his U.S. visit, China's U.N. ambassador signed an international human rights agreement which has been in force for more than 20 years.

Ambassador Qin Huasun on Monday signed the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which went into force in 1976. The covenant, which calls on states to respect individual liberties in the three areas, was adopted by the U.N. General Assembly in December 1966 when Taiwan held the Chinese seat at the world organization.

The decision to sign the agreement appeared to be a move by Jiang to deflect criticism of China's human rights record, especially in Tibet, during his U.S. visit.

Jiang arrives in Washington for his summit with President Bill Clinton on Tuesday afternoon following a rest stop in Williamsburg, Virginia.