BEIJING – Secretary of State Colin Powell won agreement from top Chinese officials yesterday to resume joint discussions on human rights issues, but he failed to persuade them to open a dialogue with old rival Taiwan.

China angrily removed human rights from the America-China agenda last spring when America introduced a resolution critical of Beijing before the U.N. Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Mr. Powell told reporters after high-level discussions here that the two countries “will start talks about resuming our human rights dialogue.” He said he wants official discussions to touch on American concerns about the detention of journalists and restrictions on civil liberties, among other issues.

On Taiwan, Mr. Powell reaffirmed the American view that China should welcome a recent offer by the president of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian, to reopen political discussions with China. But the Chinese, mistrustful of Mr. Chen because of his moves toward independence, rejected Mr. Powell’s appeals, said an American official who accompanied Mr. Powell in the discussions.

China has said a dialogue with Taiwan will be possible only after the island agrees it is a part of China.

Mr. Powell, who arrived here from Japan on Sunday night, met separately with President Hu, Prime Minister Wen, and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.

The Xinhua News Agency reported after Mr. Powell’s talks that Mr. Hu “appreciated” America for reiterating its opposition to Taiwan independence.

“[Hu] said he hoped the U.S. side would see clearly the nature and serious harm of the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces,” Xinhua said.

During Mr. Powell’s discussions, Chi na reaffirmed its strong opposition to American arms sales to Taiwan. Mr. Powell said all weapons transfers to the island are for defensive purposes only.

There was no shortage of issues for the two sides to discuss. A Powell aide counted 29 raised during his meetings. Mr. Powell flew to South Korea in the afternoon following a 25-minute stop at the Sun Dong An Plaza, a modern shopping mall in the heart of Beijing. As he arrived, he was surrounded by a phalanx of about two-dozen plainclothes police who kept surprised Chinese shoppers at bay.

On North Korea, Chinese officials told Mr. Powell they believe it is possible for six-nation negotiations on nuclear disarmament to resume in the next few months. North Korea boycotted a meeting that was to have taken place in September. The six nations are America, China, Japan, Russia, and the two Koreas.