Hu Jintao Concludes Visit To the United States

Hu Jintao Concludes Visit to the United States

Chinese President Hu Jintao concluded his visit to the United States on Thursday, a very important moment for both the countries, the two largest economies in the world, because the visit was meant to bring them together in spite of their natural competition for regional and world dominance.

The agenda had economic items the Chinese leader attempted to solve, such as the problem of undervaluation of the national currency, the yuan, seen by many analysts as a dumping policy; it also had political matters such as the reassurance that China does not pursue a dominance policy, and that the military growth is purely for defensive purposes.

Human rights and the nuclear file of Northern Korea were also topics the two presidents tried to find a solution to.

Even so, Hu could not refrain from saying that matters such as Tibet and Taiwan are domestic matters that are not to be addressed in this context, maintaining that China is trying to establish a socialist country under the rule of law, and that the relations with the United States should be governed by feelings of respect and equality.

Earlier in the day, Hu met the congressional leaders who received him chillily, addressing him various questions mostly about the observance of the human right or the protection of intellectual property.

Hu met a few congressmen who did not attend the state dinner in his honor, hosted at the White House on Wednesday. The Senate majority leader Harry Reid had called him a “dictator” a few days ago, an affirmation denied by the spokesman.

Spokesman of Senate J. Boehner noted that on Thursday tensions on Korea were raised during talks, and the human rights complaints were also addressed, especially about the way the regime is treating Nobel Prize Laureate Li Xiaobo, who was not allowed to attend the prize award ceremony and is still kept in prison, in spite of demands that he be released.

Reporters were told that no serious engagements were made on the subject, other than the recognition by China’s president that they have a different way to go.

On Wednesday, Obama and Hu had a closed door meeting on important global issues as the economic crisis, the international security, environment and human rights observance.

Obama Administration announced Chinese approval of $45 billion in new contracts for the American export companies, a contract that will support 235,000 jobs for Americans.

One of the topics that was addressed to Hu was the censorship of media in China, whenever it came to broadcasting news on Li Xiaobo.

Obama said he received a promise that a more level playing field would be established by the Chinese counterpart, even thought the currency remains undervaluated.

The President of the United States defended the idea of talking to China in spite of the problems related especially to human rights. “They have another system, and a different stage of development.”

He expressed the hope that the cooperation with China will increase to the benefit of both states who could become more prosperous and powerful.