China

Hu and Obama Talk

By Austin Ramzy | @austinramzy | November 9, 2008 | +

The state-run Xinhua News Service says Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President-Elect Barack Obama spoke by phone on Saturday, their first reported conversation. The two stressed the importance of bilateral relations, discussed the seriousness of the financial crisis and touched on the Taiwan issue, but otherwise the piece was short on details:

Hu expressed appreciation to Obama for emphasizing in his election campaign speeches the great importance of China-US relations, and for advocating the strengthening of China-US cooperation in jointly responding to global challenges and in sharing global development opportunities.

Hu pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries 30 years ago, bilateral relations have generally kept developing despite setbacks, scoring hard-earned achievements and bringing about tangible interests to both nations.

As the largest developing nation and the largest developed nation, China and the United States share extensive common interests on issues related to world peace and development, and both assume important responsibility in this regard, Hu said.

Here are some of Obama’s very similar sounding contributions:

On today’s international arena, US-China relations are relations of vital importance. The development of US-China relations is not only in the interest of both nations, but also benefits the world, Obama said.

Saying that US-China relations face many development opportunities, Obama expressed the hope that the United States and China will strengthen cooperation, and promote greater development of bilateral relations, to bring benefits to both nations.

Related Topics: China

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  • johnsmith9876

    Hu rightly instructed Obama to “deal with the Taiwan issue properly”. Is the Taiwan issue a Chinese internal matter or is it a US problem, or is it an international issue ? Does Hu know ?

  • doris333

    I guess with Bush selling 6 BILLION USD ARMS to Taiwan it becomes a tri-lateral issue. http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/03/asia/04arms.php

  • johnsmith9876

    Tri-lateral ? You mean China, US and Taiwan ?

    That’s great. I love to see Taiwan and China sitting down at a table and talk as equals. Whether US is there or not is totally moot if it happens.

  • doris333

    They are talking already dude

  • johnsmith9876

    The talks now are only between two civil organizations, not two governments, dude.

  • johnsmith9876

    I think it is a plot that Ma resigned his chair of the Nationalist Party. This way, you either address him as Mr. or President. Unlike Lin, you can’t address him as Chairman Ma. This is brilliant. You either treat him as nobody, or treat him as a president.

    The Chinese delegates refusing to address him as President shows the world how China really wants to play this game.

  • bookevil

    johnsmith9876:
    “The Chinese delegates refusing to address him as President shows the world how China really wants to play this game.”

    It is interesting to see that you made such a mistake in common sense. Since Taiwan is officially recognized by THE WORLD as a part of China, INSTEAD OF a independent country. Then, how could Ma be addressed as “President”? Do not you even know that Bush just addressed him as the “leader of Taiwan” in public?

  • doris333

    johnsmith9876:
    There is only one plot and its in your head. You are decisively Anti-China. So sorry for you.
    Taiwan will reunite with China. Taiwanese know where their bread is buttered.

  • johnsmith9876

    China won’t address Ma as president, ever. That’s exactly my point. It is pointless to even expect China to talk to Taiwan on a equal footing. A bi-lateral or tri-lateral talk will never happen, not this century. Only commercial and civil links are possible, but not governmental relationship.

    Nationalists learned decades ago that when the Commie Bandits still hadn’t got what they want, they will promise anything, and when they got what they want … I don’t think Ma will fall for any of the gestures send by PRC.

    The ROC negotiator has said the recent visit and meeting meant that ROC and PRC have stopped denying their counterpart government as legitimate government of a sovereign nation. This is a test set up to see whether PRC really mean what they say in meeting. I expect PRC to fail this test in a spectacular manner. A stern denial from the PRC mouth piece will come real soon.

    Love to see someone calls PRC’s bluff.

  • bookevil

    johnsmith9876:
    “China won’t address Ma as president, ever.”
    So do other conturies. The US and European leaders just address Ma as “the leader of Taiwan” in public. So, do not even try to fool anyone here to believe that China is the only country,which does not recognize Taiwan as a independent country.

    “It is pointless to even expect China to talk to Taiwan on a equal footing.”
    No offense against anyone from Taiwan. But since Taiwan is not independent, then it is naturally not equal to China. Of cause, you do not want to face the reality, but do you really believe that you can change that?

  • ricelee22

    Mr. John Smith is losing his touch. Have we touched a nerve with Taiwan?

    Don’t worry, Ma promised the people that he will not have reunification under his term, and we will respect him for that. It will come later, despite your efforts.

    For once you actually seem human though, feeling unjust yet hopeless for a cause. I congratulate you, Mr. John Smith.

  • sojournerstrange

    This Taiwanese seems to be looking at an entirely different piece of bread, then.

    Let’s not even get into the moral issues…

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