Clinton Arrives in China Amid Human Rights Controversy

US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, has arrived in Beijing for wide-ranging talks with China's leaders.

Topics for discussion are expected to include the economy, human rights, climate change and North Korea.

As Hillary Clinton lands in Beijing today on the final leg of her first trip as Secretary of State, she has saved the most difficult – and most critical – stop for last.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Beijing on Friday evening, kicking off her first visit to China since she took office.

Clinton was greeted by Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jieyi at the airport.

She said she would continue to press China on issues such as human rights and Tibet, but added: "Our pressing on those issues can't interfere on the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis and the security crisis."

Recent American presidents, her husband Bill Clinton included, began their terms of office promising to "get tough" with China over issues from human rights to trade.

Amnesty International and a pro-Tibet group voiced shock Friday after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton vowed not to let human rights concerns hinder cooperation with China.

Clinton, who openly criticized China's human rights record in a 1995 speech in Beijing, told reporters there is a certain predictability to U.S.-Chinese disagreements on political freedoms, U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and the status of Tibet.