Chinese activist Chen Guangcheng told visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "I want to kiss you" as they spoke by phone in Beijing today, a US official said.

Chen left the US embassy in the Chinese capital today to seek medical care and join his family, US officials said, more than a week after his daring escape from house arrest and flight into US protective custody.

Earlier, a US official said Beijing had committed to allow Chen Guangcheng to go to a "safe" place in China adding the activist made no request to leave the country.

Chen, who riled Chinese authorities by exposing forced abortions and sterilisations under the "one-child" policy, fled house arrest on April 22 and sought refuge in the US embassy where he demanded assurances on his freedom.

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