Beyond broad foreign policy goals, the vice president spoke about specific issues, advocating that America engage with former Cold War adversaries and commit to bringing Africa into the world economic community.

He talked most often about China, stressing his commitment to the Clinton administration's "One China" policy, aimed at eventual reconciliation between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. He also called for bringing China into the World Trade Organization (WTO) and permanently normalizing trade relations.

Gore said the best way to foster democratic reform and curb human rights abuses in China is by building close political and economic ties rather than containment.

"It is wrong to isolate and demonize China--to build a wall when we need to build a bridge," Gore said.

While Bush also supports bringing China into the WTO, Gore said the Republican supports current legislation that would inflame tensions across the Taiwan Strait.

Gore spent the last part of his address attacking Bush's foreign policy, which he called "noticeably blank." He claimed his opponent was not prepared in foreign affairs.

"From what we can tell of his foreign policy, Governor Bush does not prepare us to meet the grand challenges of both the classic and new security agendas," Gore said.

Gore associated Bush with the views of Republican congressional leaders like Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Senator Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), whom he dubbed "neo-isolationists."