World Tibet Network News Thursday, April 30, 1998 (II)

BEIJING, April 30 (Reuters) - In a surprise personal gesture, Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Thursday took U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright on a stroll to a pavilion in Beijing's ancient leadership compound.

On a warm sunny day, Jiang gave Albright a guided tour of the 600-year-old walled compound known as Zhongnanhai, once home to emperors and now to the ruling Communist elite.

He pointed out renovations under way ahead of a June summit with U.S. President Bill Clinton, according to State Department spokesman James Rubin.

In one light-hearted moment, the Chinese president joked that Clinton's visit was a good excuse to pick up the pace of improvements to the ancient compound.

Albright was "struck by the personal gestures she has received during her two days here," Rubin said. She had dinner on Wednesday night with Vice Premier and former foreign minister Qian Qichen.

Albright handed Jiang a four-page letter from Clinton saying how much he was "looking forward" to the summit and his first official visit to Beijing, Rubin said.

The letter hoped for "a foundation of concrete progress and cooperation in specific areas of concern." These included regional cooperation, human rights, religious freedom, trade liberalisation and missile technology export controls.

Clinton also spoke of the importance of building on improved government to government ties. He mentioned cooperation and exchanges on science and technology, health, education and contacts between young people.

Jiang was philosophical when Albright brought up concerns about religious and cultural freedoms in Tibet during their one hour meeting, U.S. officials said.

Jiang "launched into a 15-minute soliloquy about the history of religion in civilisations in China," one official said.

He quoted Balzac, the Old Testament and the history of Christianity in China. "It was an interesting intellectual philosophical description of the history of religion," the official added.

Rubin said Albright was delighted with Jiang's guided tour.

Accompanied by his chief builder, Jiang walked with Albright to a lake and a "spectacular" pavilion where some of the summit meetings would be held, Rubin said.

Jiang explained how the wooden structures were built to maximise ventilation during hot weather.

The Chinese president "went over his personal arrangements and renovations he and the Chinese were doing for the president's visit," Rubin said.

He "commented amusingly about how the fact that the president is coming in eight weeks allowed him to push renovations through much quicker."