One hilarious artefact of the Bush years is a YouTube video in which comedians imitate then president George W. Bush and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice discussing China. Made in 2003, soon after Hu Jintao first came into office, Bush asks who is the president of China. The video updates the old skit by Abbot and Costello, 'Who's on first?', confusing the question 'who' with the answer 'Hu'.
The recently concluded visit by Hu to the United States should yield no similar jokes. It was clear that the US administration knows President Hu and gave considerable attention to the visit. Such is the importance of China today in the world after the financial crisis.
Even more, it is clear that Hu has studied and understood America. On what could be his last official visit to America before a new generation of leaders takes over, Hu steadily and cannily avoided pitfalls. Impressive, when we consider that the US-China relationship has not been going well over the past year.
Complaints that American jobs have been unfairly 'exported' to Asia and especially China? Reply that Chinese demand has created 14 million jobs worldwide and agree to US$45 billion in US export deals, that would support 235,000 jobs across 12 American states.
Accusations, by the US Congress and others, of currency manipulation? Guide the renminbi to a new high just before the Washington summit and suggest that a rise in the long term would be natural.
Grumblings by big American businesses about their treatment in China? Dole out US$19 billion and up to US$2.5 billion in deals to Boeing and GE, respectively.
The 'tea party' revolution evident in the US mid-term elections has shown a restive element in American politics, and the Obama administration cannot afford to be conciliatory. It was Hu who tried to respond to the mood and manage American perceptions.
