US, China Grow Closer Despite Touchy Issues

Bush accepts Olympics invitation; talks recalls, environment with Hu
By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 6, 2007 3:18 PM CDT
US, China Grow Closer Despite Touchy Issues
Tibetan activists look on as their colleagues break fast in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. Fourteen Tibetan exiles protesting the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and demanding an end to China's rule over Tibet ended their 33-day hunger strike Thursday following an appeal from the Dalai Lama and...   (Associated Press)

President Bush accepted an invitation today from China’s president to attend next summer’s Olympics, a gesture that will likely anger human rights activists but may increase pressure on Beijing, the Times reports. In a 90-minute meeting in the eve of the APEC summit, Hu Jintao and Bush also discussed climate change and recalls of Chinese-made toys.

“It was a constructive and cordial conversation,” said Bush, who consistently describes US-China relations as “complex.” An Asia expert says his acceptance represents a “public vote of confidence” for the Chinese but also “raises pressure” on them to focus on human rights abuses. Hu and Bush also agreed to link their countries' militaries using a Soviet-era-style hotline. (More Hu Jintao stories.)

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