U.S. cements $45B in export deals with China

WASHINGTON - Chinese President Hu Jintao declared yesterday that "a lot still needs to be done" to improve his country's record on human rights, a rare concession that came after President Barack Obama asserted that such rights are "core views" among Americans.

The exchange over human rights was balanced by U.S. delight over newly announced Chinese business deals expected to generate about $45 billion in new export sales for the United States.

Those agreements were cemented during yesterday's summit meeting between the leaders of the world's two largest economies. Obama said the deals would help create 235,000 U.S. jobs.

"I absolutely believe China's peaceful rise is good for the world, and it's good for America," Obama said, addressing a major concern in Beijing that the United States wants to see China's growth constrained.

"We just want to make sure that [its] rise occurs in a way that reinforces international norms, international rules, and enhances security and peace as opposed to it being a source of conflict either in the region or around the world," Obama said.

The daylong working sessions played out against lingering distrust that Obama and Hu tried to address in their own countries. Hu asserted Chinese sovereignty and China's desire to pursue economic growth. Obama tried to reassure China critics, even in his own party, by stressing China's place as a growing market for U.S. goods.

"We want to sell you all kinds of stuff," he said.

The day's work ended with a lavish "quintessential American" state dinner last night at the White House, complete with apple pie, ice cream, and jazz music.

The gala was attended by a mix of Hollywood A-listers, big business types and prominent Chinese-Americans. Singer Barbra Streisand and husband James Brolin attended, as did Jackie Chan, designer Vera Wang and Microsoft's Steven Ballmer. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter made the cut, too.

There were some high-profile no-shows, including three of the top four leaders of Congress: House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), and Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was the only top congressional leader to accept an invitation.

The two leaders, standing side by side at a joint news conference in the White House East Room, vowed closer cooperation on critical issues ranging from increasing trade to fighting terrorism. But they also stood fast on differences, especially over human rights.

Obama noted tension over China's human rights policies. The United States has called for expanded religious freedoms and for China to release jailed dissidents, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who was prevented from attending the Dec. 10 prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway.