Clinton meets Chinese officials

EDIT CONTAINS 4:3 MATERIAL

On her second day of high level talks with Chinese officials, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said ties between the two countries are as strong as they've ever been.

Clinton made the remarks Friday during a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao. Clinton is in Beijing for talks about a range of issues including Iran, North Korea and China's currency.

But it's whats' going on here that's grabbing the majority of the attention... Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng is believed to be receiving treatment at this Beijing hospital for a foot injury.

Chen, a blind human rights activist, injured himself during his escape from house arrest last month. He's been asking the U.S. for help... he even made an impassioned phone call to congress Thursday.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE DISSIDENT CHEN GUANGCHENG SPEAKING ON TELEPHONE TO CONGRESSIONAL HEARING AND PARAPHRASE INTERPRETED (English) BY BOB FU, PRESIDENT OF CHINAAID:

"....I really afraid of my other family member's lives and they have installed seven video cameras and even with electric fence ...."

Initially, Chen fled to the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. After a few days, the U.S. helped broker a deal that would have allow Chen to remain in China with his family.

But Chen changed his mind about the deal, saying he feared for his safety.

And while this international flap continues to overshadow the high level talks between the two countries, on the surface, everyone seems to be getting along.

Julie Noce, Reuters