China, US settle row over blind dissident Chen Guangcheng
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China and the US on Friday appeared to have found a way out of a messy diplomatic row, with Beijing agreeing to let a blind Chinese dissident at the centre of the crisis to leave the country and Washington assuring all assistance to give him asylum.
The Chinese government, which earlier demanded an apology from the US for allowing human rights activist Chen Guangcheng to take shelter in its embassy gave in today and said that he could apply to obtain necessary travel documents to go abroad.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said in a press release that Chen may apply to study abroad according to China's laws. Answering a host of questions, Liu later told a media briefing that Chen could get a passport.
His ‘criminal record’ of the past may not come in the way as he has already served sentence in a previous case, he said. The blind activist, who is convalescing in a hospital here appealed to US leaders yesterday for political asylum for him and his family.
Appreciating China's softening of stand on Chen, whose week-long stay in the US embassy virtually overshadowed the two-day high level US-China strategic and economic dialogue here, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington would provide all necessary assistance.
Talking to the media after the conclusion of the two-day dialogue, Clinton told the media here that Chen has confirmed to the US Ambassador to China Garry Locke today, that he wants to go the US along with his wife and two children to pursue studies there.
"In that regard we are also encouraged by the official statement issued by the Chinese government confirming that he can apply to travel abroad to pursue his studies," she said.
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