Xi Jinping reassures US business community
Seattle (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Yesterday, Pope Francis and Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in the United States at almost the same time, the former in Washington, the latter in Seattle.
Several US newspapers and Chinese bloggers tried to imagine or hope that the pontiff and Xi might meet. However, their respective travel schedules prevents that.
The pope will be in Washington on 23 and 24 September and in New York on 25 September. Then he will be in Philadelphia on 26 September for the World Meeting of Families.
From the US West Coast, Xi will travel to Washington (24-25 September), followed by New York (26-28 September), where he will speak before the United Nations General Assembly.
Few observers believe such a meeting possible because the two have little to say to each other. Still, some media photoshopped the Catholic and Chinese leaders together, shaking hands.
For Xi Jinping, this is his first visit to the United States as president. His Xi Jinping’s main concern is economic: how to continue to attract foreign investments to China, stabilise China’s internal situation, and develop peaceful relations with foreign countries. This is why the first part of Xi’s agenda is dominated by meetings with the who’s who of US business.
Speaking at the Washington State Welcoming Banquet on the first day of his week-long visit to the US, Xi addressed an audience that included former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and other high-profile guests.
During his speech, Xi said that China would continue its economic reforms, reducing monopolies in favour of greater market freedom. In recent months, Beijing left a huge footprint on its equity markets and the yuan.
Xi publicly dismissed allegations that his sweeping anti-corruption crackdown against “tigers” and “flies”* is driven by an internal leadership struggle.
The Chinese leader defended China's action in the South China Sea, (which includes building an airstrip) saying the country's island reclamation projects were to "improve the working and living conditions of the Chinese personnel" on the islands.
He also reiterated that the Chinese government is not involved in cyber-espionage, adding that China and the United States plan to work together to fight this scourge.
He tried to reassure US businesses about a new draft law on foreign charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Many fear that the new law gives the state too much power over charitable and NGO activities and funding, restricting the freedom such groups can exert on their own and with other civil society groups.
Unfazed, Xi insisted that foreign NGOs would not have any problems in China if they “obey Chinese law and carry out activities in accordance with the law”.
In recent months, Chinese state-run media had accused foreign NGOs of undermining national security and trying to foment a “colour revolution”** against the ruling Communist Party.
Possible protests by Tibetans, Uighurs, human rights activists, and Falun Gong practitioners remain a concern for Xi’s visit even if the former are held at a distance airports and reception rooms.
Chinese officials visiting Washington have in fact reiterated to their US government counterparts "over and over" the imperatives of ensuring Xi Jinping's "security and dignity”.
* This refers to senior officials (tigers) and lower-ranking cadres (flies) suspected of corruption in the party, government, military and the state-owned enterprises.
* For example, Ukraine’s 2004 orange revolution and Tunisia’s Jasmine revolution, which sparked the Arab Spring.
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21/04/2020 12:45
