Bush vows to take 'message of freedom' to Beijing

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2008

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush, in a move likely to anger China, met with five Chinese dissidents here and told them he would take a "message of freedom" to next month's Olympic Games in Beijing.

"President Bush met with five Chinese freedom activists to discuss his concerns about human rights in China," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said in a statement Tuesday.

"The president assured them that he will carry the message of freedom as he travels to Beijing for the games, just as he has regularly made this a priority in all of his meetings with Chinese officials," she said.

Perino said Bush met with Harry Wu, Wei Jingsheng, Rebiya Kadeer, Sasha Gong and Bob Fu. The meeting was held at the White House residence instead of the Oval Office,...