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Clinton nears end of Asian trip Clinton wraps up first Asian trip
(about 1 hour later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is due to meet Chinese civil society leaders in Beijing, as she wraps up her first foreign trip as top US diplomat. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has met Chinese civil society leaders in Beijing, as she concluded her first foreign trip as top US diplomat.
Mrs Clinton started the third and final day of her stay in China by attending a church service in the capital. Mrs Clinton started the third and final day of her stay in China by attending a church service. She then met academics, journalists and entrepreneurs.
She has used official meetings with China's leaders to call for stronger US-China ties. She has used meetings with China's leaders to urge stronger US-China ties.
She said bilateral co-operation on global issues such as climate change and the economy was "imperative".She said bilateral co-operation on global issues such as climate change and the economy was "imperative".
These would take precedence over points of friction between the two governments, such as human rights and Tibet, she added.These would take precedence over points of friction between the two governments, such as human rights and Tibet, she added.
Her week-long Asian tour has included stops in Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.Her week-long Asian tour has included stops in Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.
Busy day
Mrs Clinton began her last day in China by attending a service at the government-approved Haidian Church. The US believes it cannot solve any of these problems unless China is involved The BBC's James Reynolds Reynolds' blog: Save-the-world club
She then headed to the US embassy to host a forum with a small group of female academics, non-governmental organisation leaders, journalists and entrepreneurs.
Mrs Clinton said that she wanted to know about the obstacles facing women in China, and was told about campaigns for Aids patients in the country as well as the need for females at high levels in the Chinese government.
The secretary of state ended her official engagements by taking part in a web chat with the China Daily - the Chinese government's main English-language newspaper.
Crucial dialogueCrucial dialogue
On Saturday, Mrs Clinton held talks with President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. The US believes it cannot solve any of these problems unless China is involved The BBC's James Reynolds class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/jamesreynolds/2009/02/howtosavetheworld_club.html">Reynolds' blog: Save-the-world club On Saturday, Mrs Clinton held talks with President Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Issues topping the agenda during these discussions were the global economy, climate change and negotiations with North Korea.Issues topping the agenda during these discussions were the global economy, climate change and negotiations with North Korea.
Before arriving in Beijing, Mrs Clinton said the debate with China over human rights, Taiwan and Tibet should not interfere with attempts to reach consensus on broader issues.Before arriving in Beijing, Mrs Clinton said the debate with China over human rights, Taiwan and Tibet should not interfere with attempts to reach consensus on broader issues.
"Our pressing on those issues (human rights, Taiwan and Tibet) can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crises," she said.
"We have to have a dialogue that leads to an understanding and co-operation on each of those."
Asked whether she had raised the issue of human rights, Mrs Clinton said she had held candid discussions on the subject with Mr Yang, the BBC's James Reynolds in China says.Asked whether she had raised the issue of human rights, Mrs Clinton said she had held candid discussions on the subject with Mr Yang, the BBC's James Reynolds in China says.
Mr Yang said the two sides saw the subject differently, our correspondent says, but he stressed that China did respect human rights.Mr Yang said the two sides saw the subject differently, our correspondent says, but he stressed that China did respect human rights.