China’s Xi has personal style

Same substance, but comes with a smile

WASHINGTON — For Americans looking at the U.S. visit of China’s likely future leader for a clue about where relations between the two nations might be headed, the signal has been clear: No change in substance, but perhaps a change in style.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping toed the line set by the man he is to succeed as Communist Party chief in the fall, Hu Jintao, who made a grand U.S. state visit a year ago.

Xi, who is expected to become president in 2013, made clear that China wants a deeper relationship with the United States and even welcomes its engagement in the Asia-pacific, as long as it respects China’s interests and concerns in its own neighborhood.

“It was a scripted trip without surprises,” said Jeff Bader, East Asia policy director during the first two years of the Obama administration.

“He obviously wasn’t here to make policy, or make decisions or alter positions on issues. He is not the No. 1 yet and he doesn’t want to prejudice his chances of being No. 1.”

But while Xi, 58, has said little new — and did little to narrow the gaping differences that exist between the U.S. and China on issues such as human rights — he made a conscious effort to appear less remote than the stiff and aloof Hu.

“He’s more interactive than past Chinese leaders. He looks you in the eye, and you feel he’s conversing with you,” said Bader, who spoke briefly with Xi on Wednesday.

His two - day swing through the power centers of Washington was followed by a trip Wednesday to Muscatine, Iowa, where Xi visited in 1985 as a 31-year- old, countylevel official to learn about crop and livestock practices.

In Muscatine, Xi visited with some of the people he’d spent time with during the 1985 trip.

He also was greeted by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, and sat down for tea with the residents while photographers and video crews recorded the interaction.

Participants said they were impressed with Xi’s memory of his earlier trip and his genuine fondness for Iowa and rural Americans.

“The guy has a clairvoyant memory. It was unbelievable,” said Tom Hoopes, a farmer who showed Xi his asparagus and sweet potatoes during a tour of his farm in 1985. He impressed his hosts by shaking their hands and looking them in the eye.