Agence France Presse

Beijing, March 21:

Cautions EU against lifting arms embargo against China.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned North Korea today of “problems” if it fails to return to nuclear talks, while cautioning the EU against lifting its arms embargo against China.

Rice also urged Beijing to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait and pressed for improvements in human rights and religious freedoms during two days of talks with the communist country’s top leaders. The US was considering “other options” in dealing with the rogue Stalinist regime in North Korea but Rice made it clear that a military attack was not one of them.

“Whether the talks can restart depends on North Korea. Everyone is waiting and is ready to have a constructive discussion,” Rice said of six-party talks to halt the North’s nuclear ambitions that have been stalled since last June. The North insists that it needs a nuclear programme to generate energy and Rice said Washington was “prepared to think of their energy needs”, but she reiterated that progress would only be made in a multinational setting.

“We hope North Korea understands that this (six-party talks) is the only way to address their needs,” Rice told a news meet on the last day of her two-day visit to Beijing. She said “everybody is aware there are other options in the international system”.

Rice’s discussions in China with president Hu Jintao, premier Wen Jiabao and foreign minister Li Zhaoxing focused heavily on North Korea with Rice warning the deadlock could not go on forever. A State Department official was cautious when asked about alternatives should talks fail, and said he could not remember any discussions regarding a deadline. Hu said today China was “devoting itself to solving the nuclear issue through the six-party talks”.

Hu may visit US this year

BEIJING: Chinese president Hu Jintao is expected to make his first visit to the US as China’s highest leader this year to meet US counterpart George W Bush, US officials said on Monday.

“I extended the president’s greetings to president Hu and noted that the president (Bush) is looking forward to welcoming him to the US later this year,” Rice said on Monday. — AFP