Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Welcome President Hu Jintao!



VOAVideo: Obama Hosts Hu in State Visit

Military bands and a 21-gun salute were part of the welcome for China's President Hu Jintao as he began the first White House state visit by a Chinese leader in 13 years.

WH.gov: China State Visit Arrival Ceremony (full video approx. 30 min)

President Obama welcomes President Hu Jintao to the White House for a state visit in an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn. January 19, 2011.

wh.gov: Presidents Obama, Hu Meet with Business Leaders (video 10 min)

President Obama and President Hu of China meet with American and Chinese business leaders at a roundtable meeting in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. January 19, 2011.

WH.gov: President Obama and President Hu Press Conference (video 70 min)

President Obama and President Hu Jintao of China hold a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House. January 19, 2011.

WH.gov: State Visit Working Lunch at the State Department (video 21 min)

Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcome President Hu Jintao of China to the State Department for a lunch during President Hu's state visit. January 19, 2011.

WH.gov: State Dinner with President Hu of China (video 16 min)

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host President Chu of China at a State Dinner at the White House. January 19, 2011.

VOANews: Obama, Hu Vow Increased Cooperation

U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on Wednesday stressed the need to cooperate - even while acknowledging differences on trade, China's currency, and human rights.

President Obama's speech:

At a time when some doubt the benefits of cooperation between the United States and China, this visit is also a chance to demonstrate a simple truth. We have an enormous stake in each other’s success. In an interconnected world, in a global economy, nations -- including our own -- will be more prosperous and more secure when we work together.

The United States welcomes China’s rise as a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations. Indeed, China’s success has brought with it economic benefits for our people as well as yours, and our cooperation on a range of issues has helped advance stability in the Asia Pacific and in the
world.

We also know this: History shows that societies are more harmonious, nations are more successful, and the world is more just, when the rights and responsibilities of all nations and all people are upheld, including the universal rights of every human being.

Mr. President, we can learn from our people. Chinese and American students and educators, business people, tourists, researchers and scientists, including Chinese Americans who are here today —- they work together and make progress together every single day. They know that even as our nations compete in some areas, we can cooperate in so many others, in a spirit of mutual respect, for our mutual benefit.

What Deng Xiaoping said long ago remains true today. There are still great possibilities for cooperation between our countries. President Hu, members of the Chinese delegation, let us seize these possibilities together. Welcome to the United States of America. Hwan-ying. (Applause.)