Remarks at Airport Departure From BeijingChristopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific AffairsBeijing, China February 28, 2008 ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We had some good talks with the Chinese. I am going off to Bangkok right now and plan to go on to Vietnam from there and then back to the States.
QUESTION: Were any concrete proposals put forth in yesterday’s talks to break the deadlock? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We are trying to work very closely with the Chinese to make sure they understand our position very clearly. I think they do. So we talked over some things, and I know that China as the chair of the process would very much like to make some progress. So, we’ll see. QUESTION: Are you confident, sir, that you can break this impasse? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We’ll see. We have a long way to go in this process, and it is not easy to get through this current situation. But frankly, I think when we get through it, we’ll realize that we have even higher mountains to climb in the next phase. QUESTION: Did you make a proposal to move forward? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We had some discussions of what we need to do to move forward. But I don’t want to be talking at this point about any proposals of any kind. QUESTION: A U.S. proposal, or a Chinese proposal? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: We talked to the Chinese about their ideas. China, as the chair of process, has a great interest in making sure this process works, and we are working very hard on that. The discussions with Secretary Rice were very good. There were a lot of very in-depth discussions. So let’s see if the Chinese can get something. QUESTION: Can you say, sir, what the sticking point is – what the problem is? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: Again, I will after we solve it. QUESTION: [Inaudible] a U.S. proposal? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No. We had a discussion about how we see the situation. So I don’t want to talk about whose proposal was what. I think China is very clear on what the United States needs. I think we all have an interest in trying to solve this -- trying to make it at least a successful as the New York Philharmonic. All right? See you later. QUESTION: After Bangkok, are you coming back to China? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: My plan is to go on to Vietnam. This is the first time I will be back since last May. QUESTION: And going up to Seoul and coming back to China? ASSISTANT SECRETARY HILL: No. I have no plans to do that. Okay? See you later. I have to run, or I’ll miss my plane to Bangkok. Released on February 28, 2008 |
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