Daily Lessons from Life 17 November 2009

"Hu, Obama stress cooperation, broach divides
Leaders ploughed through agenda packed with top world crises. -Tue, Nov 17, 2009 AFP

BEIJING, Nov 17, 2009 (AFP) - US President Barack Obama and China's Hu Jintao Tuesday pledged to apply their joint political might to the world's toughest problems, but friction was evident on Tibet, economics and Iran.


Hu vowed to work for 'positive, cooperative and comprehensive' ties with Obama's administration, and the US leader, seeking to cement his early relationship with Beijing, adopted the same diplomatic formula word for word.

The pair voiced agreement on the need for action on climate change, prodding North Korea back to six-party nuclear talks and a common undertaking to help return the global economy to growth after the dark economic crisis.

While both leaders sought to stress areas of agreement, they did not shirk from subtly hinting at issues where gaps remained.


Hu told Obama for instance they needed to 'oppose and reject protectionism in all its manifestations.' Washington has angered Beijing by slapping tariffs recently on Chinese tyre exports and preliminary duties on some steel products. Hu added the two sides would need continued 'consultations on an equal footing to properly resolve economic and trade frictions.'

Obama, tactfully voicing US worries that China's yuan currency is being kept artificially low to boost Chinese exports, said he welcomed 'past statements' by Beijing to pursue a market-oriented exchange rate 'over time.'


That choice of language left open the possibility Hu had made no fresh offer of action which Obama said would make 'an essential contribution' to rebalancing the global economy - code for weaning China off export-led growth.

On Monday, the US president pushed for expanded political freedoms and spoke out against censorship in a town-hall meeting in Shanghai - comments that were widely ignored by the tightly-controlled Chinese state media."

This is definitely a historic visit by the 44th and the 1st African-American President to PRC.

Lessons for me are:

1. if they looked at each other as competing power, they will make the wrong decisions for mankind and the world. Both must realize the world need them to be in harmony in order for the world to progress in peace and prosperity;

2. differences in opinions are natural given the vastly diverse background and history of the nations and the different stage of development. USA needs to acquire a new habit of consumption that is less credit-dependent and responsibly while PRC (China) needs to learn to be less dependent on a consumer that NO LONGER can afford to consume like there is no tomorrow. How to achieve the shift for both nations are important. Going emotional will not be helpful. Step-by-step and steady as both goes is the way forward;

3. as long as the dialogue is kept open. There will be opportunities to slowly adjust and shift for both sides. For me, RMB staying high is not going to happen for a while as long as USA can still consume. The desire to get China domestic consumers, the 200-300m 'middle-class' to consume will be possible IF their money do not go to buying or speculating in properties and stock markets! The challenge is will these consumers buy domestic or they will buy 'foreign branded' stuffs manufactured OUTSIDE China!! If they do preferred 'foreign brands' then there is NO replacement for 'export' market!!

4. as for the need to keep the environment clean and sustainable. I think China has a bigger stake than the USA as pollution cannot be easily exported!! I think the Chinese leaders and the Chinese people understand the severity and the cost of over-pollutions to human life and economic property can be immense;

5. as for 'freedom of speech' track, Mr. Obama must continue to pluck this line. At the same time, be realistic that it will come when the Chinese government, and the CCP, is ready. Or that the topics are some deeply embraced by the people, not just the intellects but the PEOPLE, will it allow 'freedom of speech'. Otherwise, it will always be 'whenever it serves the country and CCP's purposes' will freedom of speech be granted! ;-)

May China and USA continue to be friendly and see each other as collaborative partners and inhabitants of Mother Earth rather than I think I can live without you on this earth - Russia and EU not withstanding!!