According to the The Christian Science Monitor, President Zemin will meet with President Bush at his Texas ranch this Friday. The two will discuss new military relations, terror threats, Iraq, and North Korea's newly alarming nuclear program.
The democratic U.S. and Communist Party-ruled China are not quite "friends." But for reasons of expediency, interest, and circumstance, U.S.-China relations have defrosted significantly -- so much so that many experts doubt China will use its UN Security Council veto on U.S. action in Iraq, even if Russia and France do.
Li is quoted on this topic saying, "A 'no-veto' on Iraq doesn't mean China wholeheartedly or sincerely supports the U.S. approach. But it is not in China's interest to be provocative. China can't appear to be either too supportive, or too critical. For the US, terror is the No. 1 priority. For China is it No. 4 or 5."
