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Hu Faces Day of Rich Ceremony, Tough Talk

   VOA News  19 January 2011
   President  Barack  Obama  and President Hu Jintao of China begin their
   working  dinner  in  the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, 18
   Jan 2011

Photo: The White House

   President  Barack  Obama  and President Hu Jintao of China begin their
   working  dinner  in  the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, 18
   Jan 2011

   Chinese President Hu Jintao is in Washington, where later Wednesday he
   will  receive  an  official welcome ceremony and begin talks on issues
   ranging from economic differences to North Korea.
   Mr. Hu has already visited the White House for an informal dinner with
   U.S.  President Barack Obama in what is known as the old family dining
   room.  Only  two  top  aides to each man were present, and note-takers
   were barred to allow a more candid discussion.
   Several hundred protesters gathered in a public park across the street
   from  the  White  House during the dinnerĀ  to demand independence for
   Tibet and greater attention to human rights in China.
   Mr.  Hu  said upon his red-carpet arrival at an air force base outside
   Washington  Tuesday  that he has come to the United States to "enhance
   mutual  trust,  promote friendship," and "deepen cooperation." He also
   said  in  the  arrival  statement  that  he wants to "move forward the
   positive,  cooperative  and  comprehensive China-U.S. relationship for
   the 21st century."
   Wednesday's  events will feature all the pomp and ceremony of a formal
   state visit, beginning with an elaborate arrival ceremony at the South
   Lawn  of the White House and concluding with a black tie dinner in the
   same presidential mansion.
   But  in  between,  the two leaders and their most senior officials are
   expected  to  spend hours grappling with some of the toughest problems
   confronting their nations, the world's two largest economic powers.
   U.S.  officials have said Mr. Obama will not shy away from challenging
   Mr.  Hu  on  the  most  sensitive  issues, including human rights, the
   nuclear  ambitions of Iran and North Korea, and rising U.S. anger over
   the value of China's currency, the yuan.
   Lawmakers from both major U.S. parties are seeking to punish China for
   what  they consider currency manipulation designed to secure an unfair
   trade  advantage.  But Mr. Hu said in an interview this week with U.S.
   newspapers  that  he  sees  no  need  for a change in China's currency
   policies.
   China's  official  Xinhua  news  agency said Wednesday the leaders are
   also  expected to announce new cooperation projects dealing with trade
   and  the  economy,  energy,  environmental  protection, infrastructure
   development, people-to-people exchanges, and science and technology.
   A  highlight of the visit will come early Wednesday afternoon when the
   two  leaders  conduct  a  press  conference  with  reporters from both
   countries.  U.S.  officials say Mr. Hu agreed only at their insistence
   to the news conference, where the leaders will take two questions from
   Chinese reporters and two from the American press corps.
   On  Thursday,  Mr.  Hu will meet with leaders of the U.S. Congress and
   deliver  a  major  address  to  the U.S.-China Business Council before
   traveling  to  Chicago,  America's  third largest city. There, he will
   highlight  cultural  contacts  between  the  countries  and  attend  a
   contract-signing ceremony.

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