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Albright defends US-China closeness

US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has given a measure of growing understanding between Washington and Beijing when she explained how China virtually handed over to her, its chairmanship of the meeting of permanent five Security Council members (P-5) in Geneva on June 4.

The meeting was called to discuss the situation arising out of nuclear tests conducted by India and Pakistan last month.

Replying to questions during a hearing of a Senate panel yesterday, she said the Chinese made way for her though they held the chairmanship.

"They did the formal part of the meeting and then turned it over to me,'' she said adding, ''and we were able to get a statement out of the permanent five that was condemnatory of India and Pakistan that I think we could not have had, had we not worked on having a strategic relationship or one where we are increasingly engaging China.''

She was defending the Clinton administration against criticism of its policy towards China, particularly the US efforts to forge a ''strategic partnership'' with the communist state.

Replying to Republican Senator Mitch McConnell, she said, ''I think, sir, perhaps you are reading too much into the partnership, but we are hoping that China will play an increasingly responsible role in Asia..."

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