Q Thank you very much. I’d like to address both leaders, if I may.
President Obama, you’ve covered the broad scope of this relationship, but I’d like to follow up specifically on your comments about human rights. Can you explain to the American people how the United States can be so allied with a country that is known for treating its people so poorly, for using censorship and force to repress its people? Do you have any confidence that as a result of this visit that will change?
And if I may, on an unrelated topic, I’d like to know what you make of the speculation that the gentleman in front of me, Ambassador Huntsman, might run against you in 2012.
And, President Hu, I’d like to give you a chance to respond to this issue of human rights. How do you justify China’s record, and do you think that’s any of the business of the American people?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: First of all, let me just say I think Ambassador Huntsman has done an outstanding job as ambassador for the United States to China. He is a Mandarin speaker. He has brought enormous skill, dedication, and talent to the job. And the fact that he comes from a different party I think is a strength, not a weakness, because it indicates the degree to which both he and I believe that partisanship ends at the water’s edge, and that we work together to advocate on behalf of our country.
So I couldn’t be happier with the Ambassador’s service. And I’m sure he will be very successful in whatever endeavors he chooses in the future. (Laughter.) And I’m sure that him having worked so well with me will be a great asset in any Republican primary. (Laughter.)
Let me address the other issue, and a very serious issue. China has a different political system than we do. China is at a different stage of development than we are. We come from very different cultures with very different histories. But, as I’ve said before and I repeated to President Hu, we have some core views as Americans about the universality of certain rights -- freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly -- that we think are very important and that transcend cultures.
I have been very candid with President Hu about these issues. Occasionally, they are a source of tension between our two governments. But what I believed is the same thing that I think seven previous Presidents have believed, which is, is that we can engage and discuss these issues in a frank and candid way, focus on those areas where we agree, while acknowledging there are going to be areas where we disagree.
And I want to suggest that there has been an evolution in China over the last 30 years since the first normalization of relations between the United States and China. And my expectation is that 30 years from now we will have seen further evolution and further change.
And so, what my approach will continue to be is to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the Chinese people, their extraordinary civilization; the multiple areas in which we have to cooperate not only for the sakes of our countries but also for the sakes of the world; to acknowledge that we’re going to have certain differences and to be honest as I think any partner needs to be honest when it comes to how we view many of these issues.
And so that frank and candid assessment on our part will continue. But that doesn’t prevent us from cooperating in these other critical areas.
I apologize. I thought we had simultaneous translation there. So I would have broken up the answer into smaller bites.
Q (Speaking in Chinese.)
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I'm sorry, I'm getting it in Chinese.
Q I’m from China Central Television. There is an old saying in China that a good relationship between the two peoples holds the key to a sound relationship between states. We know that to further strengthen the public support for the development of this relationship is also very important to the sustained, sound, and steady growth of our relations. So, President Hu Jintao, I would like to ask you the question, what do you think that the two countries need to do to further increase the friendship and mutual understanding between the Chinese and American peoples?
At the same time, we have also noted that the U.S. side has been saying that the United States is willing to see a stronger and more prosperous China. So I would like to ask President Obama, that deep in your heart, do you really think that you can live comfortably with a constantly growing China? And also this question, that what do you think that China’s development really means to the United States?
PRESIDENT HU: (As translated.) I would like to take this question from the lady journalist. I think that the exchanges between our two peoples represent the basis and the driving force behind the growth of our relationship. Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, we have seen more robust exchanges between our two peoples. And such exchanges have also helped promote the steady growth of our relationship.
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