We Welcome the Leader of China 

          Here we must break with many of our conservative colleagues, who have criticized President Obama for his warm welcome of Chinese leader Hu Jintao, including a lavish state dinner in his honor.  This is exactly what the President of the United States should be doing.  With more than 1.3 billion people and the world’s second largest economy, China is a major player on the world stage.  It is a no-brainer that it is in our interests to cultivate and maintain friendly relations with the most populous country in the world.

          China has come a long way since President Nixon opened the way for improved relations during his historic visit in 1972.  Later, as Envoy to China, George H.W. Bush (Bush 41) nurtured that seed planted by President Nixon, ensuring that it would take root and grow.  Now, as our relations continue to flourish, we feel that it is altogether appropriate for the President of the United States to roll out the red carpet and welcome the current leader of The People’s Republic of China.

          While we cringe at the embarrassing words of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who called the Chinese Premier ‘a dictator’ on the occasion of his visit, we salute the President for choosing a more measured approach as he encouraged the Chinese leader to improve human rights in his country.  Now if Mr. Hu is able to teach Mr. Obama something about capitalism, it will have been a fair exchange.

          Anyone who has visited China recently and really immersed themselves in the culture and actually taken time to rub elbows with the Chinese people will surely come away feeling reassured.  These are among the nicest, most friendly people I have ever met.  It is almost touching to see how much they like America and Americans.

          We believe that the next step in advancing our relationship should be to repay the money that China has loaned us, since friendships unfettered by money issues are much more likely to endure.  In addition, we must continue to keep a wary eye on the military aspirations of the People’s Republic of China, all the while maintaining our close relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan, ‘the other China’).  All of these goals are compatible with Sino-American friendship. We welcome Hu Jintao to the United States and look forward to ever improving relations with the Chinese people.