Chinese president to meet with Bush

(CBC) - U.S. President George W. Bush meets with his Chinese counterpart on Thursday in Washington, where the leaders will discuss the two countries' enormous trade gap.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has been in the United States for two days, speaking with business leaders in Washington state - including Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates - and arrived in the D.C. Wednesday night.

He is scheduled to meet with Bush on Thursday morning, when the two are expected to talk at length about America's $202 billion US trade deficit with China.

That trade gap has caused some members of Congress to call for tariffs on Chinese products and accusations that China's trade practices are unfair and have contributed to the loss of nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs in the United States in the past five years.

Jeffrey Bader, director of the China initiative at the Brookings Institution, says China is increasingly being blamed for America's economic problems.

"People see a plant close somewhere and say 'China is the cause,' and that in turn creates political pressure in Washington," he said.

But Bader points out that U.S. consumers like being able to buy cheap goods at discount stores, and says moves such as tariffs could upset the delicate balance between the two countries.

Also on Bush's agenda for the meetings:

- Nuclear standoffs with North Korea and Iran
- China's human rights record
- China's growing military strength and whether it poses a threat to Taiwan

Protesters filled a Washington park near the White House on Wednesday, hoping Bush will put democracy and political reform at the top of the agenda.

"Do not listen to the Chinese officials," said Shaah Go, who travelled from Texas for the protest. "They do not represent the people. They are selected by the Communist Party, but not by the people."

© the CBC, 2006