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                    Obama in Beijing for Summit, State Visit

   by Luis Ramirez

   President Barack Obama has arrived in Beijing on what is expected to be
   a polite but difficult three-day visit as tensions simmer between the
   two Pacific powers.

   Obama arrived in the Chinese capital on Monday to a welcome that had
   all the trappings of a state visit. Still ahead is a dinner with
   Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Asia-Pacific leaders and, later,
   fireworks.

   But with China growing more powerful both economically and militarily,
   there are tensions beneath the veneer of courtesy and pomp Obama was
   afforded at his arrival.

   Evan Medeiros, the top official for Asian Affairs in the president's
   National Security Council, told reporters that in coming here, Obama -
   in the rest of his term - wants to build a stable and diversified
   security order in which both powers can co-exist peacefully in the
   region.

   "We see this trip as an important opportunity to define a
   forward-looking agenda for the U.S.-China relationship over the next
   two years, and to ensure that the U.S.-China relationship is defined
   for the most part by more and better and higher-quality cooperation on
   regional and global challenges, while also carefully managing the
   disagreements between the two countries," said Medeiros.

   Pushing an agenda of greater cooperation will not be easy for Obama,
   who comes here politically weakened by elections at home. And there are
   signs the welcome he is getting from the Chinese is only superficial.

   In the days before the U.S. leader's arrival, Chinese official
   newspapers have published disparaging remarks about Obama, including
   one describing him as "insipid," and saying the results of recent U.S.
   elections show Americans are tired of his "banality."

   The United States is concerned about the continuing trade deficit,
   cyber issues, and Chinese maritime claims in the East and South China
   Seas. President Obama wants to dispel the impression among Chinese
   leaders that the U.S., through the rebalance of its forces to the
   Pacific, is trying to contain China.

   U.S. administration officials say they are expecting frank discussions.
   But Wilson Center analyst Robert Daly, a former U.S. diplomat in China,
   said the talks will emphasize the positive elements of the relationship
   and not get to the heart of the tensions between the existing power and
   the one that is rising.

   "To date, neither side is willing to specify what accommodations it is
   willing to make. Or in the case of China, what it is, specifically,
   that it doesn't like about the current set of arrangements in the
   western Pacific. China has never answered what it is that it would like
   to be able to achieve that it can't achieve under the current set of
   arrangements," said Daley.

   Over the next two days Obama will participate in a summit of the Asia
   Pacific Economic Cooperation group APEC. U.S. officials see APEC as a
   means to set rules that will prevent conflicts in the region and hope
   this meeting will help them make progress on trade, cyberspace, and
   climate issues.

   On Wednesday, President Obama's official part of the visit begins and
   it is then that the more substantial conversations will happen with the
   Chinese leader behind closed doors.

   Obama will depart Beijing later Wednesday to make his second to visit
   to Myanmar, also known as Burma. There, he will attend two East Asian
   summits before going to Australia for a gathering of the G20.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-in-beijing-for-summit-and-state-visit/2514237.html