From Iowa Visitor to White House Guest

[Randy W]

Interesting, when the People's Daily uploaded this video to YouTube a day leter . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiAoTGbKNm4

4 days ago - Uploaded by People's Daily 人民日报

 

 

Xinhua's version is at https://www.youtube.com/user/ChinaViewTV

Xi Jinping: From Iowa visitor to White House guest

18,557 views 5 days ago

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay his first state visit to the U.S. later this month, but his connections with the American people began much earlier.
During his previous U.S. visits spanning three decades, meeting ordinary -- and not so ordinary -- people has become an important part of his schedules.
This video offers more on their stories.

 

 

Edited July 14, 2017 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

. . . and the story from Muscatine, Iowa, the "Pearl of the Mississippi"

 

 

 

http://www.muscatineiowa.gov/638/Chinese-VP-Xi-Jinping-Visit

[Randy W]

in the Shanghaiist from a translation from a Chinese article, published by Beijing News

 

This is what Xi Jinping wants to talk about at the White House

 

The article, published by Beijing News, begins by rubbishing any accusations that cyber attacks on US servers were launched from the PRC. It expresses dismay over speculations about the "mischief reef" constructions in the South China Sea. Bad mouthing of the Chinese economy has also been deemed unwelcome.

1. China is no threat to the established international order . . .

 

2. China's development will not lead to conflict with other nations .. . .

 

3. China won't engage in building its own spheres of influence. . . .

 

4. Initiatives such as the New Silk Road are not an attempt to vie for leadership . . .

 

5. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is not an attempt to overturn the existing financial system . . .

 

6. Construction in the South China Sea is not aimed at any one nation: Building on the islands is instead necessary in order for China to fulfill its international obligations and the US must remain impartial when stepping into disputes in the region. . . .

Edited September 18, 2015 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

His itinerary, from the SCMP, includes a visit with Bill Gates, and a visit to Lincoln High School of Tacoma before heading to Washington, D.C.

 

Xi Jinping’s US visit: itinerary, issues and delegation

Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the United States was formally announced by the White
House earlier this week. The Chinese president will travel to Seattle on Tuesday, before
going to Washington to meet President Obama and concluding his trip in New York a week later.

[Randy W]

Looks like Xi's got his own Facebook page, although it's unclear who started it - https://www.facebook.com/xiusavisit

 

It seems definitely upbeat, so it could be an inside (CCP) job, but I don't see any connection, except for the 'Likes'

Edited September 21, 2015 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Randy W]

Haven't seen anything about his dinner with Bill Gates (which the WSJ reported was on his itinerary)

 

Titans of American tech industry have photo op with Xi Jinping following Internet forum

 

At Microsoft's campus the leaders of the American tech industry were all allowed to line up for a 10-minute photo up with the Chinese leader. First in line? None other than Xi super fan Mark Zuckerberg, who reportedly managed to get a laugh out of the Chinese president while speaking Mandarin.

 

[Greg.D.]

"At a round-table discussion with top American executives in Seattle — including Warren Buffett, Mr. Bezos and Mr. Cook — the Obama administration’s commerce secretary, Penny Pritzker, told Mr. Xi that corporate America had complaints about cybertheft, forced technology transfer and regulations that unfairly discriminate against American companies."

 

Remember last year, there was a huge shakedown by the party against many foreign companies who were charged with "being succesful while foreign". Broadcomm paid almost $1 billion in tribute. It was a demonstraiton by the party that they could do whatever they wanted. Then it was followed by demands for more technology transfer. Don't have an office in China? We have other ways to transfer the technology.

 

I feel less obligated now for our country to help companies who choose to do business in China. This is 2015. They know what will happen. MS agreed to offer free upgrades to Win 8 even for pirated copies of windows. Really? Okay, don't come crying when they steal your lunch money, too. You say the potential market is too big to ignore? Plenty of companies ignore it.

 

Substantial American investment in China “shouldn’t obscure the fact that there are real challenges in China where the rhetoric and the vision doesn’t meet the reality,” Dean C. Garfield, president of the Information Technology Industry Council, said at the forum. As an industry representative rather than the head of a company, Mr. Garfield was freer to express criticisms that individual executives would not make in public.

Like Ms. Pritzker, Mr. Garfield said that draft regulations would force American tech companies to submit to invasive audits and create back doors into hardware and software. They were not simply devised for national security reasons as China has insisted but to favor domestic players over foreign ones, Mr. Garfield said.

Sounding skeptical about economic changes pledged by Mr. Xi, Mr. Garfield said, “If those reforms do move forward, then the opportunity for collective growth is high.” But that is a big “if,” he said.

[Randy W]

A report from the SCMP

 

China, US to address differences ‘candidly’ as Barack Obama welcomes Xi Jinping to White House

Obama welcomes Xi to White House, urging frank discussion over issues that have strained ties

 

 

 

But Bonnie Glaser, of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said: "I don't think there is any real chemistry between them. They bring an enormous amount of domestic pressure."

 

Still, the opportunity to meet was considered by the White House as especially important.

 

"It has been difficult for the US to get its views heard … Sometimes you just have to get Obama in the room," Glaser said.

 

Xi's visit comes at a time of heightened tensions as the two powers tussle over issues including cyberespionage, China's posturing in the South China Sea, and Washington's perception that Beijing intends to challenge the world order.

 

Analysts say Xi likely used the meeting to elaborate his thoughts on "a new type of great power relations", a concept he first raised with Obama in 2013.

 

Xi has said the concept incorporates three elements: that both sides avoid confrontation, promote mutual respect of each other's "core interests", and seek win-win cooperation. But the US is wary "core interests" might include China's sovereignty over the disputed South China Sea.

 

Peking University professor Jia Qingguo said it was unlikely Xi would clarify whether the term included the South China Sea issue, a move that would almost certainly upset the relationship.

 

[Randy W]

. . . and now an Ambassador to China. From NPR

 

Trump Selects Long-Serving Iowa Governor As Ambassador To China

 

Branstad's relationship with the Chinese leader dates back to at least 1985, when Branstad was in his first term as governor and Xi was a mid-level Communist Party official dealing with agriculture.

As The Des Moines Register says the relationship between them took on a more significant meaning following a trade mission five years ago.

"The pair rekindled their friendship in 2011, when Branstad met with Xi during a trade mission to China and invited him back to the state.

"Xi, then the vice president of China, accepted Branstad's offer in 2012, attending a state dinner at the Iowa Capitol, visiting 'old friends' from his initial visit in Muscatine and touring a massive farming operation in Maxwell. [Xi] became the president of China less than a year later."

 

 

 

. . . and the SCMP. I wouldn't think that he'd bother trying to establish any Masonic groups while he's there, but the SCMP points this out:

 

Terry Branstad set to be US ambassador to Beijing, even though his Masonic beliefs are banned in China

The only Masonic lodges that exist in China today are in Taiwan – all the other chapters were eliminated after the communist revolution there in 1949