Clinton, Jiang debate human rights on TV

President Clinton looks on as President Jiang addresses a news conference

BEIJING (CNN) -- U.S. President Bill Clinton and his Chinese counterpart Jiang Zemin on Saturday agreed to disagree over human rights and the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, but they also announced a series of agreements on arms control, energy and environmental issues.

An extraordinary joint news conference was broadcast live in China. Never before had China's 1.2 billion people seen such a public airing of East-West views.

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Speaking during a 70-minute debate in Beijing's massive Great Hall of the People, Clinton and Jiang underlined the positive side of evolving U.S.-China relations. But they did not shy away from stating their contrasting political and social views on what a modern society should look like.

At times raising their voices but never losing their tempers in this first U.S.-Chinese summit in China since the army crushed pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square, the two leaders focused on their achievements, as well as their unresolved differences.

"I think President Clinton is a strong defender of the American interests, and I am a strong defender of the Chinese interests," Jiang said. "But despite that, we still can have very friendly exchanges of views and discussion. And I think that is democracy."

Detargeting of nuclear missiles

Both nations agree to stop targeting each other with their nuclear missiles. The accord was seen as largely symbolic since it would take only minutes to re-program the nuclear missiles. But Clinton said that the accord, worked out before the summit, would end the threat of an accidental nuclear launch, and Jiang said the agreement showed that "China and the United States are partners, not adversaries."

China and the United States also pledged not to export to Pakistan or India missiles, missile equipment or materials capable of delivering nuclear weapons. India and Pakistan recently tested nuclear devices. The U.S.-China agreement covers only medium- and long-range missiles.

Tiananmen Square crackdown

Clinton, who had been welcomed in a glittering ceremony on the western edge of Tiananmen Square, used his initial remarks to deliver a lecture on the crushing of pro-democracy demonstrators at the site nine years ago.

A protester blocking tanks is a memorable scene from the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown

"I believe, and the American people believe, that the use of force and the tragic loss of life was wrong," Clinton said, adding that governments must protect the freedoms of speech, association and religion. He noted that a pledge to protect these freedoms is a part of the charter of the United Nations. ( 128 K/ 8 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

But Jiang again firmly rejected Western accusations of intolerance. "Had the Chinese government not taken the resolute measures then, we could not have enjoyed the stability that we are enjoying today," he said. ( 281 K/ 22 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Clinton also complained about the detaining of dissidents during his visit and called on China to release political prisoners.

"In China, we have our laws," Jiang responded bluntly.

Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama

Clinton urged Jiang to open talks with the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who has been campaigning and seeking international support for autonomy for the Chinese-ruled Himalayan region. ( 204 K/ 14 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

Jiang said he would hold a dialogue with the Dalai Lama -- but only if the Buddhist leader recognized that Tibet is an "inalienable" part of China and that Taiwan is a Chinese province.

Chinese troops ended Tibetan autonomy in 1950. Taiwan is governed by the successors of the political party and armed forces that lost a civil war to the Communist Party in China.

Correspondents Wolf Blitzer and Andrea Koppel, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.