ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION<br/> <br />President Barack Obama on Monday (April 30) ducked a question about a Chinese dissident believed to be under U.S. protection in Beijing but said China will be stronger if it improves its human rights record.<br/> <br />At a news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Obama appeared to be walking a fine line between not saying anything to make it harder to resolve Chen Guangcheng's case while conveying U.S. respect for human rights and U.S. appreciation for wider cooperation with China.<br/> <br />Chen escaped house arrest in rural China last week and is under U.S. protection in Beijing, according to a U.S.-based rights group.<br/> <br />Asked directly about Chen's case, Obama replied: "Obviously I am aware of the press reports on the situation in China but I am not going to make a statement on the issue."<br/> <br />Obama said the issue of human rights comes up every time there are senior U.S.-Chinese talks, saying the United States does so both on principle and because "we actually believe China will be stronger as it opens up and liberalizes its own system."
