Planning for the Obama-Xi Summit

It is almost certain that some members of Congress will raise "politically inconvenient" questions during a hypothetical meeting with the Chinese leader. Whatever the motives of these members — ideological prejudices or constituency interests — it is better to engage them than to avoid them. A face-to-face conversation may not change their views about China; it may even reinforce their preexisting views. But such conservations might help these members to better appreciate Chinese concerns and perspectives. The exchange of views may also reveal misunderstandings on either side that should be clarified. Most importantly, face-to-face interactions personalize the otherwise impersonal state-to-state relations: a pat on the shoulder or a humorous comment could help immensely in building up personal rapport and facilitating discussion on policy issues.

The Chinese president should also plan on meeting with representatives from the American business community. In the 1990s American multinational corporations were the most powerful "China lobby" on Capitol Hill: they played a pivotal role in fighting against congressional attempts to link bilateral trade with Chinese human rights. Their support was also crucial in the passage of legislation that allowed China to join the WTO in 2001. Yet starting from the mid-2000s, the American business community has become increasingly critical of China due to their frustrations with China's WTO practices and its industrial policies. Mr. Xi should engage American business leaders and address their concerns; otherwise the bilateral relationship may lose one of its pillars.

In the same vein, China's top leader should also consider meeting with leaders of labor unions and listening to their complaints. China has become an easy scapegoat for the plight of American workers; the trade deficit with China and China's exchange rate are often cited as the most important culprits for the decline of U.S. manufacturing jobs. But the real world of economics is much more complicated than politicians' simplistic explanations on the campaign trail. Mr. Xi should highlight the benefits of bilateral trade and investment, such as the increasing number — though still rather small in both absolute and relative terms — of jobs created by Chinese investment in the country.

During his 2012 tour, President Xi stopped by a small town in Iowa and had a reunion with old American friends from his 1985 visit. He also watched a basketball game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles before heading back to Beijing. These two items on his itinerary clearly show that he wants to connect with the American people. To continue his public diplomacy, Mr. Xi could be the guest of honor at a baseball game, or he could flip a burger with Obama on the White House lawn. It is also highly desirable that he meet with American students who have studied in China. In the long term there is nothing more important than people-to-people ties in stabilizing the bilateral relationship.

Mr. Deng's visit was more than 30 years ago. Since historical contexts are crucially different, a repeat of 1979 would seem unlikely. But personality wise, Mr. Xi appears to share many qualities with Mr. Deng: confident, candid, and down-to-earth. Of course, what makes Mr. Xi popular in China may not make him popular in a completely different political culture. Nevertheless, if the September trip is well planned, it could be a successful one.

The author is vice dean of English and International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University. This article first published on the website of The Diplomat on June 23, 2015 and is reproduced here with the kind permission of the author.