It is famously a sensitive tightrope that Obama is walking in his tour of Asia, particularly in his present visit to three Chinese cities – Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong – although it often seems that he’s walking a tightrope with China’s leading officials more than he is with the Chinese people. China and America are two of the most powerful nations in the world – and China the fastest developing – but the two nations’ futures are immutably tied together, lending added importance to the successful outcome of Obama’s visit. In Shanghai this morning, Obama met with Chinese university students who were able to engage in a rare opportunity for a democracy-style Q&A with him.
There are plenty of widely varying theories as to how carefully prepared these students – and their questions – were, but this is definitely a unique and profoundly important opportunity not only for those students, but as a sign of continued and open cooperation between the two nations’ governments and their people. I am Hollywire’s film writer, but I’ve also been a university teacher in Henan – China’s most populous Province with about 100 million people – for three years, so I’ve been able to take this opportunity to interview some of my own students and offer them the opportunity to express their opinions.
Nevertheless, I am always suspicious of carefully prepared interview sessions like this, in any country, which is why I think a more casual form of interviewing like this is so important in learning how people really feel about certain international news events. You probably remember when Jackie Chan started a firestorm of controversy last year with some comments he made in Hong Kong about freedom for the Chinese people. When that happened, Chan was labelled a fascist and a traitor against his own people and a whole list of other terrible things, so I interviewed hundreds of Chinese students to gauge their emotions, only to find that an astonishing majority of them agreed with him.
Such is often the case with a culture of people who so many times in the past have been invaded, colonized, take advantage of, and lived under harsh governments, but who now stand as a proud product of their past and have also gained a deep understanding of who they are. They’ve never faltered in the fierce, continuing pride in their nationality and their nation, and they’re now one of the most quickly developing and important nations in the current world environment, although also among the world’s most misunderstood.
In Obama’s speech this morning to university students in Shanghai, he tenderly broached the issue of human rights – traditionally one of the Chinese government’s least favorite topics to discuss with foreign powers – by stating that America would “always speak out” in favor of free expression, worship, political participation and access to information — which he called “universal rights.” I’m not sure if Obama’s staff are aware that Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube – among countless other mediums of free expression and information access – are all currently illegal in China, but I asked my students what they thought were the most important issues that Obama should discuss with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and here are some of their responses:
“Both China and America went through the economic crisis last year, so how to deal with solving the crisis is the most important issue that they should discuss. Many Chinese factories have been stricken by the crisis, like American companies, so how to deal with and balance and even increase the trade between the U.S. and China?”
Shi Pan, 25
Gan su Province, China
First, what should powerful and developed countries like the U.S. and China do to protect smaller poverty-stricken countries? We need more fairness between rich and developed countries with smaller, voiceless countries. Second, what cooperations can the U.S. and China make to protect our environment and ecological nature?”
Bai Weiwei, 22
Jin Cheng City, China
The most important thing that the leaders should discuss is how American and Chinese students and people can communicate more effectively and know each other better and have better knowledge and culture exchange. The second important issue is how these two countries can cooperate effectively to enhance the economic development of the world.”
Meng Xiao, 25
Luoyang City, China
“The most important topics that should be discussed are world peace, economic cooperation, and international trade.”
Yao Lili, 26
Luoyang, China
“President Hu Jintao and President Obama should discuss the protection of developing countries. China and America are the two biggest countries in the world and should work together for the peace of the world.”
Zhag Xingxing, 25
Ping Ding Shan, China
North Korea’s nuclear problem has an important meaning to China, so it may have an important influence on the relationship between China and America.”
Li Mingzhu, 22
Xin yang, China
“They need to discuss imports and exports, because the bilateral relationships between China and the U.S. depend on mutual trust in business affairs.”
Yuan Lojuan, 24
Jin Cheng City, China
“China and America should discuss world harmony because they are both powerful not only in economics but also in military affairs, so their good relationship can advance their development.”
Song Ruonan, 22
Luoyang, China
“I think the most important issues that they should discuss should be economic cooperation and the sovereign rights of Taiwan. The Chinese people persist that Taiwan belongs to China, so we hope America should advocate and support our policy.”
Xu Xiaolin, 23
Luoyang, China
There are often conflicts in the news between America and China, so I think they need to disucss how to deal with these problems, and how to promote cultural communication.”
Chen Qianling, 25
Luoyang, China
“Education is an important issue in both America and China, so I think they should discuss the mode and expectations of education.”
Hu Erjuan, 27
Sanmenxia, China
“I think the two most important issues they should discuss are the diplomacy strategies of the two countries and some agreements about bilateral relations.”
Li Lijie, 26
Xu Chang, China
“I think Obama and President Hu should discuss the financial issue, because the U.S. and China should help each other. Also, I think they should discuss the environment of the world. Because the U.S. and China are two of the biggest countries in the world, they should be responsible about the environment.”
Gao Xiaoli, 24
Nan Tong, China
“In my opinion, President Obama and President Hu should discuss cooperations in economy, science and technology, and environmental protection. It is clear that cooperations between the United States and China are beneficial to both countries and their people.”
Zhang Xiaoning, 30
Jiaozuo City, China
“Taiwan is an essential part of China, it should return soon to the motherland. I also think human right is a sensitive question, but they should discuss something about the issue.”
Cao Wangru, 30
Xi’an, China
“As powerful countries, I think they should take measures to protect our environment, because environmental pollution is getting so serious and has an impact on our life. Also, in the future, I think it’s better to have more events like this to improve our cultural interaction.”
Zhang Juan, 22
Sanmenxia, China
“Personally, I think they should try to seek approaches to alleviate the contradictions of trade deficit. At the same time, they should make out certain plans that China and the U.S. can follow to bridge political and economic gaps.”
Wang Junbo, 30
Luoyang, China
“I think all students are influenced by the economic crisis, so they should discuss how to solve the problem of university students’ unemployment.”
Zhan Xuemei, 23
Zhou Kou City, China
“I think the most important topics that Obama and President Hu should discuss are ways to deal with the financial tsunami and how to improve our bilateral relationship, especially in some sensitive issues, like Taiwan. The Taiwan issue is always a sensitive issue for both China and America, so it must not be ignored.”
Zhou Yuan, 23
Luoyang, China
According to Usmagazine.com, Angelina Jolie is not a fan of President Barack Obama.
