DATE=4/5/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247659
TITLE=CHINESE PREMIER -- L-A PREVIEW (S/L)
BYLINE=MIKE O'SULLIVAN
DATELINE=LOS ANGELES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  CHINESE PREMIER ZHU RONGJI WILL BEGIN AN EIGHT-DAY VISIT 
TO THE UNITED STATES TUESDAY WITH A STOP IN LOS ANGELES.  V-O-A'S
MIKE O'SULLIVAN REPORTS MR. ZHU WILL MEET WITH CITY OFFICIALS AND
THE LOCAL CHINESE COMMUNITY.

TEXT:  THE CHINESE PREMIER WILL ARRIVE IN LOS ANGELES TUESDAY 
MORNING AND ATTEND A LUNCHEON HOSTED BY LOS ANGELES MAYOR RICHARD
RIORDAN.  TUESDAY NIGHT, MR. ZHU WILL ADDRESS ONE-THOUSAND 
MEMBERS OF THE LOCAL CHINESE-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.  

ORGANIZER KATRINA LEUNG EXPECTS A SPONTANEOUS ADDRESS, OF THE 
KIND SHE SAYS THE PREMIER IS WELL KNOWN FOR.

                                /// LEUNG ACT ///

         I THINK HE MIGHT ADDRESS MOSTLY HOW CHINESE-AMERICANS 
         SHOULD PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
         CHINA, AND HOW WE (CHINESE-AMERICANS) ARE APPRECIATED.  
         AND HE MIGHT TALK ABOUT RECENT THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN 
         CHINA, JUST TO BRING US UP TO DATE.

                                 /// END ACT ///

MR. ZHU WILL ADDRESS MORE CONTENTIOUS ISSUES WHEN HE MEETS WITH 
PRESIDENT CLINTON AND OTHER U-S OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON LATER 
THIS WEEK.  CHINA IS SEEKING U-S SUPPORT IN ITS EFFORTS TO JOINT 
THE WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION.  IN RETURN, THE UNITED STATES WANTS
REDUCED TARIFFS ON GOODS SOLD TO CHINA AND ELIMINATION OF CHINESE
TRADE BARRIERS.

                        /// REST OPT ///

COMPLICATING THE TALKS ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES.  THEY 
INCLUDE ALLEGATIONS OF CHINESE SPYING ON U-S NUCLEAR PROGRAMS, 
TENSIONS OVER U-S CRITICISM OF CHINA'S HUMAN RIGHTS POLICIES, AND
DISAGREEMENT ON THE NATO BOMBING OF YUGOSLAVIA.  IN RECENT DAYS, 
THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN RENEWED ALLEGATIONS OF ATTEMPTED CHINESE 
PAYMENTS TO PRESIDENT CLINTON'S 1996 REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR. ZHU ALSO FACES SOME DIFFICULT TALKS IN WASHINGTON WITH SOME 
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WHO HOPE TO LINK TRADE AND HUMAN RIGHTS 
ISSUES.  THE PREMIER'S LOS ANGELES HOSTS PROMISE A WARMER 
RECEPTION.  HIS OTHER U-S STOPS INCLUDE NEW YORK, CHICAGO, BOSTON
AND DENVER.  (SIGNED)



NEB/PT

05-Apr-99 5:12 PM EDT (2112 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.