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Tibetans protest Hu's visit to U.S.

NEW YORK APRIL. 29. Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the hotel where China's Vice-President is staying during his first visit to New York. Many were there to welcome Hu Jintao, while others protested Chinese rule in Tibet.

Holding Chinese flags and luminescent glow sticks, hundreds of people stood across the street from the Waldorf-Astoria hotel hoping to see the Vice-President.

``We want to welcome him,'' said Bartar Wu, chairman of the Beijing-USA Association. ``We want the U.S. and China to be friendly.''

Mr. Hu is scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange later on Monday. He also plans to meet the U.S. President, George Bush, and the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, in Washington.

Steven Chen, a 17-year-old student who lives with his family in Manhattan, said he braved the rainy night to show support for his country.

``I love China,'' he said. ``I'm here to support my Vice-President. If China is better, I'm better.''

But others in the crowd were not happy to see Mr. Hu, who is widely expected to become China's next President.

``We want to let him know that he's not welcome here,'' said Lhadon Tethong, a spokeswoman for Students for a Free Tibet.

``We want to raise awareness with the American public that the future President of China is responsible for one of the darkest periods in our history.''

The 59-year-old Vice-President rarely travels abroad. Vice-President since 1998, he was chosen by the late supreme leader, Deng Xiaoping, to succeed the President, Jiang Zemin.

He was party secretary in Tibet in 1989 when soldiers opened fire on Tibetans protesting Chinese rule.

Last summer, he was quoted as vowing to crush Tibetans campaigning against Chinese rule.

Dozens of members of China's banned Falun Gong spiritual group also protested outside the Park Avenue hotel. Police reported no arrests early Monday.

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