Last Friday, President Obama arrived in Japan to start his four-nation trip to Asia. He plans to visit Singapore, China and South Korea to have formal talks with Asian leaders about economic growth, nuclear non-proliferation, the war in Afghanistan and climate change with each country.
The president plans to meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Pand Premier Wen Jiabao, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Russia President Dmitry Medvedev and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Obama will also participate in an APEC summit.
Shanghai, China
Today, President Obama met with Chinese students at a town hall meeting in Shanghai. He opened his discussion to hundreds of university students stating, “Our relationship has not been without disagreement and difficulty, but the notion that we must be adversaries is not predestined.”
Obama stressed that all people share certain core principles, which include equal rights for everyone, a government that reflects the will of the people, open commerce and free access to information, and the rule of law.
“These freedoms of expression and worship, of access to information and political participation, we believe are universal rights,” Obama continued. “They should be available to all people, including ethnic or religious minorities, whether they are in the United States, China or any other nation.”
The Chinese government views human rights differently. China has tight regulations on the media and censors the Internet. Obama told the students how he is against censorship and believes strongly in the free flow of information in a democracy.
”I have a lot of critics in the United States who can say all kinds of things about me,” Obama acknowledged. “I actually think that that makes our democracy stronger and it makes me a better leader, because it forces me to hear opinions that I don’t want to hear. It forces me to examine what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis to see if I’m doing the very best that I could be doing for the people of the United States.”
He also talked about global challenges, like climate changes, and was asked questions regarding the war in Afghanistan.
Obama’s next final stop is Seoul, where he will meet with President Lee Myung-bak. He will also deliver a speech to the U.S. troops at the Oscan Air Base.
Opinion
I think it is great that Obama is taking the time to travel Asia-Pacific countries and meet with leaders to discuss imperative topics and to strengthen international relationships; especially, China because it is a growing economical nation that the U.S. and many other countries depend on for many products and raw materials. According to an article posted on CNN’s Web site, China’s rapid economic expansion has grown 8.9 percent in the past quarter versus 3.5 percent in the U.S.
From a public relations perspective, I feel Obama understands the importance of rebuilding a relationship with China. It has been a struggle for China and the U.S. to have a mutual relationship. Both nations need to better understand each other and help each other on major issues. Together they can fight global issues and terrorism.
What are your thoughts and feelings on the relationship between U.S. and China? Do you ever think both nations will be able to move on from the past and replenish a new, fostering relationship?
That the Chinese government managed, or scripted, Barak Obama while not budging on the issues says something about the Chinese character that few outside of China realize. I’ve just posted on this at http://euandus3.wordpress.com/2009/11/18/china-stage-managing-barak-obama/, drawing on my visit to China.