Chinese Leader Begins U.S. Visit in Hawaii

Chinese President Jiang Zemin arrived here Sunday for a one-day stopover en route to a meeting with President Clinton, a visit he hopes will deepen understanding between his nation and the United States.

“I believe that through the joint efforts of China and the U.S., my visit will deepen our mutual understanding, broaden our common ground and promote friendship and cooperation between our two countries, and that China-U.S. relations will enter a new stage of development,” Jiang said in a statement issued to the press.

Jiang made no public remarks upon his arrival, the first in the U.S. by a Chinese leader in 12 years.

Jiang’s plane landed just after 9 a.m. at Hickam Air Force Base. The president was greeted by dignitaries including Gov. Ben Cayetano; Adm. Joseph Prueher, head of U.S. military forces in the Pacific; and James R. Sasser, the U.S. ambassador to China.

Jiang was given a 21-gun salute and reviewed a military honor guard with Prueher as more than a hundred people from Hawaii’s Chinese community waved American and Chinese flags while chanting “Welcome! Welcome!”

After the arrival ceremony, Jiang traveled in a motorcade to Pearl Harbor, where he placed a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial and dropped a floral lei in the harbor.

He also attended a luncheon hosted by Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, who returned last week from a trip to China, and a state dinner at the governor’s residence.

Jiang was scheduled to leave this morning for Williamsburg, Va., which he is to tour Tuesday. On Wednesday he is to meet with Clinton and attend a state dinner in his honor.

The meeting between Jiang and Clinton is the first U.S.-China summit since President Bush went to Beijing four months before pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked in Tiananmen Square.