Obama’s Intentions in Shanghai Fall Outside the Realm of Policy

On the evening of November 15, U.S. President Obama arrived in Shanghai. What special reason caused Obama to choose Shanghai as his first destination on his visit to China? While he is in Shanghai, Obama will demonstrate his acceptance of the future of U.S.-China relations. He will deliver a speech directly to young Chinese people. According to foreign media, the key to a successful China policy depends on whether Obama can capture the attention of Chinese youth. CCTV (China Central Television) special commentator Yang Yu discussed this issue on the program “China News.”

Obama’s choice of Shanghai as the first destination on his trip to China is consistent with the actions of his predecessors. In the eyes of Americans, Beijing represents China’s political center, while Shanghai represents its commercial center. Consequently, all U.S. presidents have been particularly eager to travel to Shanghai. I believe that, practically speaking, Obama wants to show voters in his country that he himself places special importance on economic cooperation with China — in particular, on commercial dealings. Proving that cooperation with China can offer the U.S. practical benefits for its own development is Obama’s main consideration.

As for today’s meeting with young people in Shanghai, Tongji University and Fudan University students were invited to participate in an informal discussion with Obama. On one hand, this form of exchange can showcase Obama’s strengths, as his speaking abilities are very good and he has the “gift of gab.” On the other hand, this format shows that communicating directly with young people can promote a better understanding of China’s future and allow Obama to get a better grasp on it. In fact, Obama is not only is befriending China’s young people, but also Chinese people of all ages, and particularly a certain number of important people with positions that carry great responsibility.

There is great anticipation about the kind of questions Chinese youth will ask Obama. I believe that polite questions, as well as some sharper questions related to the broader concerns of ordinary people, will arise during this discussion. We are all anxious to hear how Obama responds; nonetheless, this is a great opportunity for both sides to promote understanding.