Rice in China to discuss N Korea and Taiwan

North Korea and Taiwan were the major subjects of talks between Chinese leaders and Condoleezza Rice in her first visit to China since becoming US Secretary of State. In meetings with President Hu Jintao, Rice said she hoped that China would take steps to ease what she described as new tensions arising from the recently enacted anti-secession law aimed at Taiwan. Hu said the law was aimed at promoting stability in the region. Rice also urged China to bring North Korea back to negotiations to help with nuclear disarmament efforts; Hu said China would work to resume the talks soon. Before arriving in the Mainland, Rice cautioned Europe not to export weapons technology to China.