Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao warned that differences over Taiwan could hurt U.S.-Chinese relations, and he vigorously defended his country's human rights record. President George W. Bush told Hu he was confident the two countries can resolve differences on both issues. Hu met privately with Bush for 30 minutes during the day. The two leaders discussed the war on terrorism, agricultural issues, Taiwan, missile proliferation, trade and human rights. (Read photo caption),
Hu is widely expected to become Communist Party secretary general later this year and president next year. He is something of a mystery man, rarely straying beyond the party line, and the administration has been hoping his visit here will produce insights into his thinking.

Later, the spokeswoman for the Chinese delegation, Zhang Qiyue, disclosed that Hu and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld agreed that military exchanges between the two countries should be restored.

For more than a year, there has been little contact between the U.S. military and China's People's Liberation Army. The two sides got off to a bad start last spring with the crash of a U.S. spy plane and Bush's approval of a substantial arms package for Taiwan.

Meanwhile, about 100 protesters shouted and waved signs outside the downtown hotel where Hu was speaking Wednesday night. Members of China's banned Falun Gong spiritual group were among those in the crowd. Another 100 counter demonstrators stood next to the protesters holding signs welcoming Hu to the United States.

Before meeting with Bush, Hu spoke with Vice President Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld and other U.S. officials.

Cheney, on crutches because of a foot injury, greeted Hu in the Roosevelt Room at the White House.

PHOTO CAPTION

President Bush, right, shakes hands with Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao, left, who is expected to be China's next president, in the Oval Office of the White House Wednesday May 1, 2002 in Washington. Hu also met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell for discussions on Taiwan, trade, human rights and a strained U.S.-Chinese military relationship. . (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivai