Video: Blind Chinese activist in U.S.

>>> the white house is welcoming the resolution of a tense diplomatic episode involving the u.s. and china that blind human rights activist we've been following for several weeks was put on a flight today from beijing to newark, new jersey, to begin a new life. chen guangcheng arrived earlier this evening, and we get the latest from michelle franzen .

>>> chen seeks final word from th chise government, but he and his family were free to board a flight to the u.s. there was a wait at beijing 's airport. last minute back and forth negotiations that ended with chen being escorted to the plane in a wheelchair. freedom now a reality.

>> he and his wife and two children had beenn house confinement by the chinese government and that day will finay end, and it is today. i think that's the kind of relief i can tell.

>> reporter: a relief after seven years of what the blind chinese dissident described as systematic abuse by the chinese government . chen was jailed for accusing china of forcing women to have abortions as part of its one child policy. after his release, he remained under house arrest until late last month when he made a daring escape, scaling a wall and taking refuge at the u.s. embassy . the timing occurred just as u.s. secretary of state hillary clinton was heading to beijing for talks on improving economic trade relations between the u.s. and china. instead when she arrived, she had to deal with an intense human rights issue. under pressure from chinese officials, chen left the embassy and remained in a hospital until today. human rights groups say the compromise is a positive step for u.s.-china relations.

>> the relationship hazmatured and has survived a very difficult month of negotiations and coming at a pretty critical time. that is on the tail of the legal expert dialogue with the u.s.

>> reporter: friends say the chinese legal activist will focus on regaining his strength after his ordeal and looks forward to pursuing his studies as a visiting scholar at new york university . michelle franzen , nbc news, new york.

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