Bush, Jiang discuss N. Korea's nuclear weapons

US President George W. Bush and a tardy Chinese President Jiang Zemin discussed ways to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program in talks yesterday at Bush's Texas ranch.

Jiang and his wife, Mrs. Wang, were greeted warmly by Bush and his wife Laura as they showed up more than 30 minutes behind schedule, possibly due to a flight connection from Houston on a gray, rainy day.

"How are you, sir?" Bush said as he shook hands with Jiang, and he kissed Mrs. Wang on both cheeks.

"Welcome to our home," Mrs. Bush said. Minutes earlier, as Bush, Mrs. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell waited outside a ranch house for Jiang's arrival, the president jokingly checked his watch and announced, "We could be fishing."

Besides North Korea, Bush aides said the president would restate to Jiang US concerns that Iraq and its suspected weapons of mass destruction pose an imminent threat that requires a tough new UN resolution requiring Baghdad to disarm.

China, while opposing the use of military force against Iraq, is widely expected to abstain from a Security Council vote possible next week rather than exercise its veto power. France and Russia have led the opposition to a US draft resolution.

Bush and Jiang were to meet for 90 minutes then break for lunch with their wives, followed by a pickup truck tour of the natural features of Bush's 1,600-acre (648-hectare) ranch on the prairie of central Texas near the tiny town of Crawford.

Both are on their way to a weekend summit of Asian leaders in Los Cabos, Mexico.

North Korea's admission that it has a secret nuclear weapons program, which US officials say has spawned one or two nuclear bombs, figured to be a dominant theme at the Bush-Jiang talks.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush and Jiang "will seek a common approach on how to convince North Korea to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons."

A senior Bush administration official said Bush would discuss with Jiang potential "diplomatic, political and perhaps financial pressures on North Korea."

Shortly before the two leaders met, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations said Pyongyang hoped to keep up contacts with the United States despite the dispute with Washington over its nuclear program.

"We will always prefer negotiations," Ambassador Pak Gil Yon told reporters at the United Nations when asked if there were any current plans for further negotiations.

US officials said China is unique in having a substantial relationship with North Korea and, as the biggest provider of economic aid to Pyongyang, has a great potential ability to exercise some leverage.

Bush will also talk to leaders of Japan and South Korea while in Mexico and Washington is also reaching out to Russia and European nations with ties to North Korea.

Washington at this point is not seeking support for any specific punishment of North Korea as it seeks a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

"At this point it's more talking about what potential next steps might be, and to develop a coordinated approach," one official said.

There are also expected to discuss trade as well as human rights, a perennial sore spot between the two countries.

A ranch visit is a treasured gift for a foreign leader. It is a farewell visit of sorts for Jiang, 76, who is expected to retire as Communist Party chief next month.

There has been speculation - never denied - that Jiang could refuse to step down from one or more of his posts.

US officials said that while there is always a chance for surprise, there is a consensus among US policymakers that a leadership transition in China is coming up.

Bush and Jiang worked through a rocky period to enjoy relatively good relations. When Bush came to office, the two nations locked horns over the collision of a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter.

Beijing and Washington have worked together in the US-led war on terrorism, however, and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday that US-Chinese relations were on a "good footing."