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Clinton fields calls on Chinese radio talk show

June 30, 1998
Web posted at: 3:11 a.m. EDT (0711 GMT)

SHANGHAI, China (CNN) -- Fielding questions from callers on a Chinese radio talk show, U.S. President Bill Clinton turned his attention Tuesday to dramatic changes in communist China and praised the nation's economy during the Asian financial crisis.

With Clinton at the microphone handling questions through an interpreter, it was an hour of jammed phone lines and excited callers on Shanghai People's Radio. By American standards, it was tame -- with none of the abuse that Clinton endures at home from Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus or other critics.

Questions ranged from the economy to education to less serious topics such as who would win the World Cup. One caller even complimented the president on his good looks.

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On the economy, Clinton said China has played a significant role in keeping the South Asian financial crisis in check.

"I believe that China has done a very good job in holding its currency stable and trying to be a force of stability during the Southeast Asian crisis," he told one caller.

Clinton made his comments on the talk show "Citizens and Society," one of the most freewheeling broadcasts in China that reaches an estimated 8 million listeners for the daily noon broadcasts. The comments came on Clinton's first day in Shanghai, China's capital of business and trade.

Clinton cites need for progress in Japan

The first caller was a Shanghai businessman who inquired about how to go about bringing stability to the battered economies of South Asia. Clinton said it was vital to restore economic growth in Japan.

"We cannot see growth restored in Asia unless it is restored in Japan," Clinton told the caller.

He said a strong proposal to help resolve the bad loan problems plaguing Japan banks would help restore investor confidence and contribute to an eventual return of growth to the region.

"If it is a good proposal and the confidence of investors of the world is raised, then I believe you will see the situation begin to turn around," the American leader said.

Clinton also told listeners the world is experiencing an explosion of information that is doubling its store of knowledge every five years. Clinton said students must seek a balance between acquiring knowledge and learning to be creative in their thoughts "in the exploding information of the world."

A student told Clinton that he had a nice figure and asked him how he kept up his energy. The president replied that he plays golf and works out on a stair climber "because it's quicker than running."

When asked who would win the World Cup, Clinton said, "It's hard for me to predict, but I think the Brazilians are always hard to beat."

Mrs. Clinton visits high-tech hospital

American first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton cut the ribbon Tuesday to open a high-tech children's hospital built with U.S. help.

"This is a very impressive hospital for anywhere in the world," Mrs. Clinton said. "Certainly the relationship between our two peoples has no greater objective than improving conditions for the children of both countries."

Project Hope, a U.S. health-oriented charity, and the Shanghai government spent some $100 million equipping the Shanghai Children's Medical Center and sending doctors, nurses and other staff abroad for training.

U.S. specialists are to visit for seminars at the hospital with Chinese doctors from throughout the country.

Mrs. Clinton participated in the ceremonies with Guo Huanchen, deputy mayor of Shanghai.

The hospital began treating patients June 1. It grew out of a 1980s Project Hope training program for Chinese pediatric heart surgeons run by Dr. Richard Jonas, a specialist at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. After training, the surgeons raised their patients' survival rate from 65 percent to 97 percent and began taking on harder cases, Project Hope says.

'New China emerging'

Earlier in the day, Clinton held a morning roundtable discussion with seven Shanghai leaders from business, law, the arts, media and the religious community.

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Background:
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Clinton said there is "a new China emerging in the world that is more prosperous, more open and more dynamic."

He asked the participants to speak frankly and openly. "What we want is to build the right sort of partnership and friendship with the Chinese people over the long run into the 21st century."

Mrs. Clinton invited roundtable panelists to talk about "the good, the bad, the hard, the easy."

Zuo Xuejin, an economist and expert on migrant research, said America has a big influence on China's young generation and that many older Chinese are concerned.

"Today there are not many people who have the chance to go abroad but they know there are many popular American stars and they know those popular stars' names better than I do," Zuo said. "And many of the kids in China love Kentucky Fried Chicken or McDonald's and their parents are worrying about whether there will be problems of obesity."

Panelist: Chinese enjoy many freedoms

Xie Xide, a physicist and educator, told the Clintons, "Our life is way better than it was. The Chinese people enjoy every bit of democracy given under the law if he or she doesn't violate the law. So I want Mr. President and First Lady to know that democracy does not mean giving people every individual freedom to do what he likes. And in China our legal framework is being perfected on daily basis."

Responding to a question, Clinton carefully spelled out U.S. policy toward Taiwan, a politically charged issue since China regards Taiwan as a renegade province. Adhering to finely worded diplomatic language that broke no new ground, Clinton said, "We don't support independence for Taiwan, or two Chinas, or one Taiwan, one China. And we don't believe that Taiwan should be a member in any organization for which statehood is a requirement."

He said Taiwan and China should pursue a peaceful settlement through dialogue.

One panelist invited Clinton to do legal work in China after his presidency, "I don't intend to retire but I haven't decided what to do yet or where to do it except I will always have a home in my home state in Arkansas," the president said.