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Josephine Ma

President Hu Jintao's visit to the US this week has symbolic significance now that China has become a stakeholder with the US in global issues, according to a US-based academic.

Brookings Institution scholar Huang Jing  said Mr Hu's agenda differed from  visits by previous Chinese leaders.

'It's not like when [former president] Jiang Zemin   came here trying to explain to the US what China wanted to be, or why China was like China,' he said.

'Hu Jintao comes here with China much better understood by the US. Hu Jintao wants to find a way to co-operate and he does not have to do any explaining.

'The US has to deal with China seriously and consider it a partner in many important issues. The US will have more to ask than to give.'

Although it is unlikely there will be any substantial outcome from the Bush-Hu summit,  Mr Hu will have to show he is a problem solver, according to Dr Huang.

'He has to prove that he understands the problems and he wants to solve problems such as the trade deficit and the currency. His comments show he is here not to create problems, but to solve problems and he has to show he is capable of doing this.'

However, Mr Hu will face an uphill task in convincing his hosts that China's rise is not a threat to the US.

'He  has to get the message across that China's peaceful development will not pose any threat.  That is the most difficult task and I am not sure he can do it.'

But Dr Huang said China's rise as a global power was different from the former Soviet Union or Germany, as China did not have the military capability for expansion.

He said: 'China's rise has been achieved not through expansion, but through integration. China has integrated itself in the existing system rather than challenging the existing system.'

Dr Huang said Mr Hu would try to push the US for a joint statement on Taiwan, although it was clear that a fourth communique with  Washington was not possible.

He said he expected that after Mr Hu's visit, Beijing would send Chen Yunlin ,  head of the Taiwan Affairs Office, to the US in May. 'They hope to let Mr Hu make the proposal first and then Mr Chen will come later in May.'

However, Dr Huang said an agreement on Taiwan was unlikely unless Beijing made major concessions on the issues of Iran, North Korea, trade and the currency, which were also unlikely. 'That is why I say this summit is more symbolic than substantial.'



Hu must show he's a problem solver at symbolic summit: scholar