Shanghai Q&A Session

Ambassador Jon Huntsman
Q&A Session
October 14, 2009
Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

Question:  I have a question for Ambassador Huntsman.  I am the reporter from Oriental Morning Post, a local newspaper in Shanghai.  Nice to meet you.

We know that President Obama will come to China next month.  I would like to know, will he visit the U.S. Pavilion during his trip to China?

Ambassador Huntsman:  Let me tell you that President Obama is very excited about his upcoming visit to China.  He believes that this is a relationship that should be positive and collaborative and comprehensive.  And we’re working very hard to make it such.

Now the President’s schedule is being worked out.  As you can imagine, moving any head of state around takes a great deal of planning and a great deal of thought, and a great deal of logistical magic.  We don’t have a final schedule, but when we do I’m sure that the people of Shanghai will know about where the President will be and will be able to hear him present--as he does so effectively--the unique characteristics of the country I represent, the United States of America.

He’ll be here for a day, and I suspect that whatever is planned during that day will be a very good and helpful presentation to the President.  Not only about China, but about this wonderful city of Shanghai.

Question:  I am a reporter from Phoenix Satellite TV.

What will be the main topic between President Obama and Hu Jintao?  And what do you think of President Obama’s first official visit to China?  Thank you.

Ambassador Huntsman:  The issues that will likely come up during the President’s visit will reflect the ongoing dialogue that has taken place since the beginning of President Obama’s election.  He has met with President Hu Jintao several times now, including most recently in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, for not their scheduled 60 minutes, but 90 minutes, which I think reflects the friendship between them, but also the importance of the issues.  I suspect that discussions here will in large part mirror the ongoing dialogue which includes some bilateral issues because bilateral issues will always be part of the U.S.-China relationship, but increasingly, the global issues that impact the region and the world as well.  And the reason President Obama feels strongly about certain global issues, whether it’s energy or climate change or regional security or the global economy, or proliferation and nuclear safety issues, is because if the United States and China can’t get together and problem solve around them, then nobody else can.

So I think it will be a good combination of our ongoing bilateral issues, a relationship that is very strong today.  In fact I would say in the 30 year formal diplomatic relationship, we may be at a high point.  The historians will have to correct me if I’m wrong.  But I sense that we’re experiencing a high point in the relationship right now, and then the bilateral issues of course will be supplemented by engagement on critically important global issues that really are a new feature of our relationship today.

Question:  Thank you, Ambassador, for coming to Shanghai.  Fox News Radio, Bill Marcus, sir.

Have you had any consultations or has your office had any consultations with the Chinese government since the North Koreans fired missiles on Monday?  That’s one part of the question.

The other part is will North Korea be on the agenda when the President meets with his counterpart in Beijing?

Ambassador Huntsman:  I suspect as with all meetings between the two heads of state, North Korea will come up.

Your question about contact, I would defer you to the State Department and statements they have made on the subject.  That would be probably more timely and informative.

May I just add onto that by saying we have had a rigorous and robust set of discussions on a bilateral basis about North Korea, most recently yesterday with our Assistant Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary Campbell for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.  He builds onto very important discussions that were had by the Deputy Secretary of State, Secretary Steinberg, which of course are consistent with the dialogue at the head of state level.  I must tell you that the dialogue has been very frank and has been very productive, and we’re very grateful to China for their work on things like Security Council Resolution 1874.

Question:  Dear Ambassador, I’m a journalist from Shanghai Overseas Chinese.  I have some questions about Shanghai World Expo.

My first question is, the theme of the national pavilion includes the achievement of the United States overseas Chinese achievements.  So I wonder how you will show the achievements of the American overseas Chinese?  You know in the history, American overseas Chinese have contributed a lot to the history of the United States.

Ambassador Huntsman:  That is a very important aspect of what the pavilion will stand for.  And you needn’t look further than President Obama’s Cabinet to see where Chinese-Americans are playing a very prominent role in policy making at the highest levels.  I will cite two examples.  One, the Secretary of Commerce; the other, the Secretary of Energy and Nobel Prize winner.  And I would also point you in every direction of American life, whether it’s literature or political leadership or science and technology, entrepreneurship, business management, education and academia.  Every facet of American life has been touched positively by people who have migrated to the United States from China over the years, and we continue to benefit from the relationship that exists today and the relationship that we have shared for many generations now.

May I say, finally, that my own family is touched by my daughter who comes from China.

Question:  I know you adopted a Chinese daughter.

Ambassador Huntsman:  So every day I’m reminded of the very important influence that this country of China has had on so many families in America.

Question:  My last question is whether you will bring your Chinese daughter to the World Expo in 2010.

Ambassador Huntsman:  [in Chinese and gesturing to Mrs. Huntsman seated in first row]For that question, you will need to ask her mother!  [Laughter, as Mrs. Huntsman nods yes].

 # # # #