China agrees to human rights talks

The United States says China has agreed in principle to resume talks on human rights issues.

The announcement came at the end of the summit of Asian and Pacific leaders in Brunei.

China -- which has long been criticised for its human rights record against dissenters -- broke off talks with Washington last year in retaliation for NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade.

A senior American official Stan Roth said Mr Clinton had suggested to the Chinese that it would be helpful if the dialogue on human rights could resume.

The Chinese president, Jiang Zemin, had agreed, saying he thought it would be a useful way to go.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service