When great powers meet
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When US President Barack Obama hosts President Hu Jintao at the White House on Jan 19, it will be the 12th full summit meeting between American and Chinese presidents since former US president Richard Nixon made his historic visit to Beijing in 1972. A dozen summits in almost 40 years is testimony to the significance of each - and this - summit.
Of course, in today's world of diplomacy the importance of such summitry is somewhat diluted by the frequent meetings the two heads of state have at various international forums throughout the year. Presidents Obama and Hu have met seven times already and they speak regularly over the telephone, on average once a month. Personal and private communications are exchanged as well. All of this interaction reflects not only the institutionalization of US-China relationship, but also the changed nature of diplomacy in today's world.
Nonetheless, the role of a summit meeting (formal state visit) is special. It presents a unique opportunity for the two leaders to engage in truly comprehensive discussions about the totality of the relationship and the state of the world. When they meet on the sidelines of an international event, time and discussions are much more limited. The meeting in the White House on Wednesday, and the other interactions between President Hu's high-level delegation with their American counterparts, offers an important opportunity to bring some much-needed stability to the Sino-American relationship and to advance common cause where possible.
It is no secret that the US-China relationship has endured great difficulties over the past year since Obama paid a state visit to China in November 2009. It has been the worst year in Sino-American relations in at least a decade. Problems, many serious, have arisen in virtually every area of the relationship - diplomatic, economic, political, strategic, military, regional and global. Considerable distrust has grown on each side (both at the government and public level) in the process. The relationship cannot be said to be in either a healthy or cooperative phase - as disagreements, distrust and frustration have grown on each side.
Yet both governments have made real efforts over the past two months to improve the atmosphere before Hu's visit this week, and these efforts have helped to bring some new stability and sense of engagement with each other, while the summit itself offers the real opportunity to arrest the hemorrhaging of the past year. If the two leaders can find common ground on the grand strategic importance of the relationship in world affairs, and communicate this jointly and effectively, this will be a signal accomplishment. Hu will be warmly received and accorded an appropriately formal welcome befitting a state visit. So, the atmospherics will be conducive to reaching common strategic purpose.
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