From a statement Speaker Boehner issued after meeting with Hu Jintao:
I want to thank President Hu of China for meeting with me and a bipartisan group of lawmakers today to discuss some of the issues and concerns impacting our two countries.
In recent decades our deep economic ties have helped create new American jobs and expand both of our economies. China is now our second largest trading partner and will undoubtedly be a critical economic partner in the future. That’s why I believe it is important that we continue to resolve our differences in ways that benefit both of our countries and our people.
In our meeting we addressed some of those challenges, including the need for stronger intellectual property protections in China and curtailing the aggressive behavior of North Korea.
And finally, we raised our strong, ongoing concerns with reports of human rights violations in China, including the denial of religious freedom, and the use of coercive abortion as a consequence of the ‘one child’ policy. When it comes to guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of all her citizens, including and especially the unborn, Chinese leaders have a responsibility to do better, and the United States has a responsibility to hold them to account.”
Yesterday, speaking with Sean Hannity on his radio show, Boehner cited today’s meeting as the primary reason he didn’t feel the need to attend last night’s state dinner at the White House.
