海角大神

President Obama and China's President Hu Jintao stressed the importance of increased US-China cooperation, for their countries and for the world, at the two leaders鈥� lengthiest public appearance of Mr. Hu鈥檚 state visit to Washington.

But Mr. Obama, at an unusually long White House press conference Wednesday, also put on display his administration鈥檚 more assertive approach to China. From a raised platform in the White House East Room and with Hu at his side, Obama said a continued rise in China鈥檚 currency 鈥渋s something we鈥檒l be looking for,鈥� while 鈥渢here has to be a level playing field for American companies operating in China.鈥�

On human rights 鈥� an issue Obama had not emphasized in his previous seven meetings with Hu 鈥� the US president reminded the Chinese leader that the universal rights America values and promotes around the world are also 鈥渞ecognized in the Chinese constitution.鈥� In addition, he referred specifically to the Dalai Lama and called for 鈥渃ontinued dialogue鈥� between Chinese and Tibetan officials.

Obama鈥檚 friendly but direct tone stands in contrast to what some critics see as his accommodating 鈥� even obsequious 鈥� approach to the Chinese leader during his November 2009 visit to Beijing. (Obama raised eyebrows by pointedly declining to see the Dalai Lama before that visit, and by participating in a 鈥渢own hall meeting鈥� in China with hand-picked Communist Party youths.)

But since that visit, the administration decided that bending over backward for China was not going to yield the progress on international issues that it sought, say China experts in the US. The result was a shift to a more assertive US posture, notably through a reinvigoration last year of the US presence in Southeast Asia and in relations with Japan and South Korea.

鈥淭he US has made its point,鈥� says Michael Green, a US-China expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington who was a special national security assistant to President George W. Bush. 鈥淏oth sides want out of this a more stable relationship for 2011, and arguably, 2012,鈥� he adds 鈥� a year when China will have its next leadership transition, with Hu leaving office, and when Obama is expected to seek reelection.

Echoing themes that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton unveiled in a speech at the State Department Friday, Obama said enhanced US-China cooperation and trust are good for the US, good for China, and good for the world. He said US exports to China have already created more than half a million American jobs, and he said rising exports to China and new business deals between the two countries 鈥� the administration announced $45 billion in joint ventures Wednesday 鈥� will 鈥渟upport鈥� nearly a quarter-million US jobs.

The relationship is good for China, Obama said, because it has provided an environment in which China could develop and 鈥渞aise millions out of poverty.鈥� China has been the beneficiary of 鈥渄ecades of stability in Asia, made possible by America鈥檚 forward presence in Asia,鈥� Obama said.

Last, Obama said cooperation between the two countries is good for the world: He cited China鈥檚 agreement on stronger international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program last year, and noted on North Korea that the US and China 鈥渨orked together to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.鈥�

Hu also lauded cooperation between the two global giants, but his emphasis was on 鈥渕utual respect鈥� 鈥� a long-held Chinese priority that leaves no room for what is seen as foreign 鈥渋nterference鈥� in China鈥檚 internal affairs. US-China cooperation would grow, he said, as long as 鈥渨e respect each others鈥� sovereignty, territorial integrity, and development interests.鈥�

Implicit in those three conditions, experts say, are China鈥檚 sensitivities over Tibet, Taiwan, and the rights of 鈥渕inorities,鈥� including pro-democracy dissidents.

Hu at first seemed to choose to leave unanswered an American reporter鈥檚 question on human rights. But when it became clear that the technical problems that plagued the two-language press conference had caused him not to hear the query, Hu said, 鈥淐ertainly I am in a position to answer that question.鈥� He gave a long answer in which he said that China, despite its 鈥渃ontext鈥� as a developing country with an enormous and diverse population, has made 鈥渆normous progress recognized widely in the world.鈥�

Still, he acknowledged, 鈥渁 lot remains to be done in China on human rights.鈥� China is willing to engage in a discussion on human rights, Hu said, but from a 鈥減rinciple of noninterference in each other鈥檚 affairs.鈥�

The focus on human rights came as some members of Congress said they would not attend Wednesday night鈥檚 White House state dinner in Hu鈥檚 honor. Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D), who on Tuesday referred to Hu as a 鈥渄ictator,鈥� said he would not attend. House majority leader John Boehner (R) and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R) also said they would forego the dinner but would meet with Hu on Thursday.

Wednesday's press conference also included what might be called a 鈥渢eachable moment鈥� on the US political system for the sizable Chinese delegation. With Hu looking on, Obama was asked about prospects that the former Republican governor he named as ambassador to China, Jon Huntsman of Utah, might end up his opponent in the 2012 presidential race.

Obama said Ambassador Huntsman, who sat before him, has done a 鈥渢errific job for the United States.鈥� He added that it was a 鈥渟trength, not a weakness鈥� to have people from different parties representing the US government abroad.

The president added that if Huntsman 鈥� who recently hinted at an interest in the 2012 race 鈥� did run, he was not sure that 鈥渉aving worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary.鈥�