MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO CHINA

UNCLAS BEIJING 003130 DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/CM, EAP/PA, EAP/PD, C HQ PACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR (J007) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON KMDR OPRC CH SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO CHINA -------------- Editorial Quotes -------------- PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT TO CHINA a. "American public diplomacy's new extension" Guangdong 21st Century Publishing Company Ltd.'s business newspaper 21st Century Business Herald (21Shiji Jingji Baodao)(11/17)(pg 2): "It now appears that the briefing that was held at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on the afternoon of November 12 for the main bloggers in China was meant not only to listen to the bloggers' thoughts about President Obama's first visit to China, but also to leverage them to pass on to Internet users the United States' message that 'we are coming.' This was an example of U.S. public diplomacy outreach to Chinese Internet users. This was not a one-off event connected with President Obama's visit to China, but rather just the start. The second such event was the Town Hall meeting that Obama had with college students in Shanghai on November 16, which was billed as a 'dialogue.' A few years ago an American diplomat said that the U.S. government was putting more emphasis on public diplomacy and had arranged trainings in this field. The goal of the U.S. government's public diplomacy efforts is to make contact with local people as much as possible, not merely facilitate government-to-government exchanges. In October, U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman visited Guangzhou, where he went to an English-language school for the disabled. Using his influence, the U.S. Ambassador was able to bring the school to the media's attention. This case highlights the benefits of public diplomacy: it is not a problem as long as it is done in the right place and benefits the receiver." b. "Obama reiterates U.S. intention not to contain China" The official Communist Party international news publication Global Times (Huanqiu Shibao)(11/17)(pg 1): "President Obama set the basic tone for China-U.S. relations in Shanghai. Professor Miu Qihao at the Shanghai Science and Technology Information Research Institute said that choosing Shanghai as the first stop of the visit is a sign of maturity in China-U.S. exchanges, and provided a channel for discussing issues other the major political ones. By commenting on certain issues in China-U.S. relations in Shanghai, the United States was able to test the international reaction first and give both China and itself more room to maneuver [before President Obama met China's political leaders in Beijing]. Professor Zhao Guojun at the Shanghai Academy of Social Science's Center for International Affairs said that Obama's visit has definitely upgraded China-U.S. relations. In contrast to previous U.S. presidential visits, Obama has paid a lot of attention to bilateral cooperation and set higher expectations for the relationship. Despite differing views on the idea of a 'strategic partnership,' the general trend in China-U.S. relations is towards greater cooperation." c. "Dialogue is good and beneficial" The official Communist Party People's Daily (Renmin Ribao)(11/17)(pg 1): "Soon after landing in China, Obama started a dialogue with students, which is a very good thing. President Obama's dialogue with the Shanghai municipal government and the people of Shanghai shows his emphasis on this major economic and cultural city in China. It is also noteworthy that Obama said that China's success is not necessarily a threat to other countries, and that the United States' success is not necessarily an example for other countries. Such rational and honest thinking reflects his wisdom as the leader of modern America. The questions asked by the students in Shanghai, which were obviously directed at certain bilateral issues, show that China's younger generation has a sober understanding of certain structural and strategic conflicts in the China-U.S. bilateral relationship. We did not expect that a one-time, American-style Town Hall meeting would solve these major issues. We sincerely hope that Obama will listen to more Chinese people and help the Chinese people gain a better understanding of the United States." HUNTSMAN