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Obama Hosts Hu in State Visit

   Kent Klein | White House  19 January 2011
   President  Barack Obama gestures during his joint news conference with
   China's  President  Hu  Jintao  in the East Room of the White House in
   Washington, 19 Jan, 2011

Photo: AP

   President  Barack Obama gestures during his joint news conference with
   China's  President  Hu  Jintao  in the East Room of the White House in
   Washington, 19 Jan, 2011

   Military  bands  and  a  21-gun  salute  were  part of the welcome for
   Chinaâs  President  Hu  Jintao as he began the first White House state
   visit by a Chinese leader in 13 years.
   U.S.  President  Barack  Obama welcomed Mr. Hu, and almost immediately
   touched on the sensitive subject of human rights in China.   Â
   âHistory  shows  that  societies are more harmonious, nations are more
   successful   and   the   world  is  more  just  when  the  rights  and
   responsibilities  of  all nations and all people are upheld, including
   the universal rights of every human being,â Mr. Obama said.
   President  Hu  responded  with  a  call for each nation to respect the
   otherâs  choices.âChina  and  the  United  States  should respect each
   otherâs  choice  of development path and each otherâs core interests,â
   he said.
   Later,  at  a  joint press conference, Mr. Hu told reporters China has
   made  enormous  progress on human rights issues, but acknowledged that
   more  improvement  is  needed.  âChina  still faces many challenges in
   economic  and  social development, and a lot still needs to be done in
   China in terms of human rights,â he said.
   Meanwhile,   demonstrators  outside  the  White  House  demanded  more
   immediate  improvement  in  Chinaâs  human  rights record, and tougher
   action from Mr. Obama.
   Elnigar  Iltebir  says  China  abuses  peaceful Uighur protesters. âWe
   would  like  President  Obama  to  exert  greater pressure as China is
   becoming  more  of  an  international  power  they  have  to  become a
   responsible stakeholder,â Iltebir said.
   Student  Qian Xin was among demonstrators who showed their support for
   Mr.  Hu  and  Chinaâs standing on human rights. âWe are so excited. As
   international students, we want to show our compassion and our welcome
   to our Hu Jintao,â Xin said.
   Cooperation  was  the  main  word  of  the day, especially on economic
   matters.
   The  U.S.  economy  is the worldâs largest, with Chinaâs at number two
   and  growing quickly.  Mr. Obama said Chinaâs economic development is
   good  for  Americaâs economy. âThe United States welcomes Chinaâs rise
   as  a  strong,  prosperous  and  successful member of the community of
   nations.   Indeed,  Chinaâs  success  has  brought  with  it economic
   benefits for our people as well as yours,â he said.
   The two presidents met with American and Chinese corporate leaders. Â
   With the huge U.S. trade deficit to China a major concern, White House
   officials  announced  deals  for  China  to  purchase  an estimated 45
   billion dollars worth of American goods.
   On  Thursday,  Mr.  Hu meets with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill, then
   goes  to  Mr.  Obamaâs home city of Chicago to meet with more business
   leaders.

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