In a response to growing concerns about the proliferation of missile technology, Mr. Clinton signed into law the National Missile Defense Act of 1999, which requires the deployment of a system when it is feasible.
Ms. Rice said that "the new security framework" would be the focus of the discussion with Mr. Putin but that other matters would be covered, including Chechnya, press freedom in Russia and Moscow's proliferation of missile technologies.
"Typically, the State Department requires that a U.S. government observer be present to prevent proliferation of missile technology," but Mr. Chavez's accusation of a military base "couldn't be further from the truth".
But beside the obvious need to coordinate antiterrorist activities, he said, "there are issues like proliferation, theater missile defense, some of the practical military cooperation areas where we've been involved in in the past that might be candidates".
In contrast, they saw little potential in building a relationship with Pakistan: its support of the Taliban, its proliferation of missile technology and its constant dalliance with economic default made it seem, in the words of one American diplomat, "only a few shades better than North Korea".
Nevertheless, at our summit in Moscow in June, President Putin and I did agree that the world has changed since the ABM Treaty was signed 28 years ago and that the proliferation of missile technology has resulted in new threats that may require amending that treaty.
There is fresh hope that China will finally keep its overdue promise to stop the proliferation of missile technology in the region, and that in return the U.S. will let China back into the lucrative business of launching our satellites into space.
America denies this, saying that it is responding to the proliferation of missile technology among "rogue" states, such as North Korea.At the time of Mr Qian's trip to Washington, both America and China seemed to be making efforts to steer their relationship clear of the rocks, by making strong protestations of friendship.
"Proliferation of missiles did not go away after Sept. 11".
In the past, Washington has twice imposed sanctions on China for its proliferation of missiles.
