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Democracy News
Obama Urges Human Rights During China’s State Visit
January 21, 2011
By: Randi Zung | Printer Friendly
During China’s official state visit to the United States (US), Chinese President Hu Jintao met with US President Barack Obama to discuss China’s human rights record, global security issues, and expanding trade between the two countries. Hu’s state visit, which lasted from January 18 to 21, also included a formal state dinner, and meetings with US Vice President Joe Biden and senior members of the US Congress.
On January 19, the two state leaders appeared together in a nationally televised news conference where Obama called on China to abide by human rights values that are specified in the Chinese Constitution. In response to Obama’s admonition, the New York Times reported that Hu acknowledged that China’s human rights record is still not up to international standards. Hu stated, “China still faces many challenges in economic and social development. And a lot still needs to be done in China in terms of human rights.” Despite China’s willingness to address the country’s negative human rights record, Hu said that China would not welcome outside interference in the country’s internal affairs. Obama administration officials stated that Obama continued to press further human rights issues – including the imprisonment of 2010 Nobel Peace Prize recipient Liu Xiaobo – in private meetings with Hu. According to the Washington Post, the Chinese media coverage of the state visit largely avoided reporting on Hu’s comments about human rights.
Following the news conference, the White House released a joint statement that outlined strengthening ties between the two countries, promoting high-level exchanges, addressing regional and global challenges, forging an mutually beneficial economic partnership, and addressing climate change and energy security. Commenting on China’s state visit, the Washington Post reported that US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated, “This relationship is going to, in many ways, determine the peace and stability and prosperity of the 21st century.”
The day after the State Dinner at the White House, on January 20, Voice of America reported that China’s official news outlet, Xinhua, called the Chinese president’s trip to Washington “a historic masterstroke of China-U.S. diplomacy.” Commenting on Xinhua’s claim, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that the trip was successful and that Hu and Obama pledged to work on building a Sino-American partnership between the two countries.
To read the full US-China Joint Statement, please see:
US-China Joint Statement
Sources:
New York Times - Obama Pushes Hu on Rights but Stresses Ties to China
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