http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1217965036...=googlenews_wsj
By GORDON FAIRCLOUGH
August 6, 2008; Page A6
BEIJING -- The potent symbolism of President George W. Bush's planned visit to Beijing this week -- and the giant new American Embassy he will unveil -- reflects the growing importance of U.S.-China relations despite disputes over a range of issues.
Mr. Bush is to arrive in the Chinese capital Thursday, then on Friday inaugurate the just-completed U.S. mission before joining Chinese President Hu Jintao and other dignitaries at the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Games, the most-expensive Olympics in history.
The new U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Friday, President
George W. Bush is to cut a ribbon at the complex
precisely 12 hours before the start of the Games ceremony.
The $434 million embassy is "a platform appropriate for the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century," said U.S. ambassador to China Clark T. Randt Jr.
The relationship between Washington and Beijing has grown immensely in the decades since the two sides re-established diplomatic ties in 1979. Mr. Bush, who took office with a tough stance toward China, has sought to improve relations in recent years, despite some friction on issues such as China's human-rights record and Washington's support for the government of Taiwan.
The U.S. has relied heavily on China in its diplomatic efforts to force North Korea to dismantle its nuclear-weapons program. The two countries are cooperating on environmental protection and engage in regular high-level economic consultations.
"It's a broadening, a strengthening relationship," between the U.S. and China, Mr. Bush said in an interview with China Central Television before leaving the U.S. Monday. "It's important for me to send a strong signal to the Chinese people that we respect them."
Mr. Bush arrived in South Korea Tuesday for the start of his Asian tour, which also will take him to Thailand. In Beijing Friday, which is Aug. 8, Mr. Bush is to cut a ribbon at the embassy complex at exactly 8:08 a.m., precisely 12 hours before the start time for the Olympics opening ceremony, the timing of which is based on the Chinese belief that the number eight is auspicious.(So the Americans believe in fortune/auspicious numbers too
)Diplomatic contacts between the U.S. and China have increased markedly under Mr. Bush. In 2001, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing had a staff of about 500 from 10 U.S. government agencies. Now it has 1,100 people from 26 agencies.
In late July, China opened a large new embassy in Washington. China's foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, said the new mission shows not only the sound state of China's relations with the U.S. but also highlights their "broad and beautiful prospects" for the future.
This celebratory rhetoric is fueled by the deep economic ties between the two countries. China, with its decades of rapid economic growth, is the second-largest trading partner of the U.S., after Canada. China said the U.S. is its second-largest trading partner, after the European Union.
According to U.S. figures released in 2007, China was also the second-biggest holder of U.S. government-issued Treasury bills after Japan, and therefore a key creditor of the indebted U.S. government.
Despite pressure on Mr. Bush to raise human-rights concerns with Chinese leaders, the U.S. president isn't expected to speak out loudly. White House officials say he will discuss China's treatment of Tibetans, Muslim Uighurs and other issues in private meetings. He is expected to make some public remarks on religious freedom after attending a Sunday service at a state-sanctioned Christian church.
Despite the recent rosy oratory, there is evidence that both countries have adopted hedging strategies -- engaging with the other in the hopes of remaining on good terms, while at the same time preparing, especially in military terms, in case relations sour.
China is investing in a bigger navy, so it can protect its increasingly global economic interests and ensure a steady supply of fuel for its booming economy. At least partly in response, that is encouraging the U.S. military to redeploy resources in Asia.
Officials giving reporters a tour of the new U.S. Embassy in Beijing Tuesday were eager to point out that roughly 10,000 Chinese construction workers and tradespeople were involved in the construction.
But when it came time to build the eight-story chancery building that is the heart of the embassy -- home to the ambassador's office and site of other sensitive diplomatic and intelligence operations -- Chinese workers were barred from the site.
