Barack Obama’s exclusive interview with the Chinese media.doc

Barack Obamas exclusive interview with the Chinese media Telegraph BlogsBarack Obamas exclusive interview with the Chinese mediaBy Malcolm Moore World Last updated: November 19th, 2009No Comments Comment on this articleBefore he departed China, Barack Obama gave an interview to the Southern Weekend newspaper, one of Chinas few outspoken and crusading titles.The interview, which took place in Beijing, appears to have been carefully checked by the Propaganda ministry. Nothing controversial was published. Nevertheless, the whole thing was ripped out of the copies of the paper that were delivered this morning to several foreign media bureaus in Beijing.Here in Shanghai, the paper was freely available on the street, with the interview still included. It is available on the internet here in Chinese.Since just about everything that Mr Obama said while he was in China was censored out of the domestic media, the print readership of this interview represents the widest audience of ordinary Chinese that the president is likely to reach.The interesting parts are Mr Obamas call for more military cooperation in the Asia Pacific region, and a promise that the US will have a second look at allowing hi-tech goods to be exported to China.Here is our English translation of the interview as it appeared in Chinese. If Mr Obama comes across as less eloquent than usual, thats because of the translation, no doubt. Sorry.INTERVIEW WITH SOUTHERN WEEKENDSouthern Weekend: Your visit to China is almost over. This was your first visit to China, at this moment what are your thoughts?Obama: This visit to China was fruitful. We have discussed a range of topics concerning both sides. The continued development of the relationship between China and the US is not just significant to the people of both countries, but also to the whole world.Southern Weekend: You mentioned Yao Ming in Shanghai, and I know you are interested in basketball. Do you still have time to play. Can you tell us more details about your work and your life?Obama: I dont play basketball as often as before, but I try to have a game every week, or every other week. I love watching games. I wish I could have seen the Shanghai Sharks, but I didnt have time. I hope to meet Yao Ming, he is one of my favourite players.Southern Weekend: This year is the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US. You said in the press conference that you welcome a powerful and prosperous China that can play a bigger role on the world stage. In the joint statement, China also said that the US plays an important role in the Asia-Pacific region. How do you view the cooperation between China and the US in the region?Obama: First of all, it is obvious that China has become one of the most significant economic powers in the world and this has been one of the most important global developments of the past two decades. Part of the reason for Chinas rapid growth is that it has a good trading relationship with the US. More importantly, the Sino-US relationship is now bigger than just trade. We seek advice from each other on important issues such as climate change, which cannot be solved without the participation of both sides.Very soon you will see a more extensive strategic relationship between the two sides, in which we will not only seek cooperation on major economic issues, which of course bring prosperity to both nations, but also close cooperation on all matters from climate change to anti nuclear proliferation, to combating terrorism, to fighting poverty and ensuring food security. We hope to see China develop onto the international stage. A wiser and more confident China will shoulder more responsibilities. At the same time we look forward to having a cooperative partnership.Southern Weekend: The US hasnt acknowledged Chinas status as a market economy. What are the difficulties in recognising this?Obama: We must note that Chinas non-market economic status in the WTO is only applied in certain areas. In most areas, China is treated as a market economy, which is why trade between China and the US has grown strongly. My understanding is that the Chinese government has taken necessary measures with the target of acquiring market economy status by 2015. Of course the US is interested in working with China on this target.Southern Weekend: Do you have a time schedule for solving this issue?Obama: In fact, there are a number of technical problems in the economics. What we are doing is to build a framework of Sino-US strategic and economic dialogues. A lot of the matters here are technical and we hope they can be solved.Southern Weekend: The volume of trade between US and China is large, but the US has a lot of restrictions on exporting high-technology items to China. The companies involved in both countries are not happy and this also restricts the balanced development of trade between the two countries. What is your comment on this?Obama: First of all we have to realise one very important fact, that the US is the most open market in the world. That is how China can accumulate such a large trade surplus with the US. We are reconsidering the embargo on hi-tech products. President Hu and I have discussed this issue and we think the US exporters may have the chance to export these products to China. Some of the restrictions have expired and we will have a new round of inspection on the restrictions. One of the targets of the G20 summit in Pittsburgh was the need to reach agreement on a more balanced growth model. China as well as other countries required more domestic consumption and the US is working on having higher savings and exports. This would help stabilise the global financial system and increase the standard of living of Chinese people and create more jobs in the US. This is one part of the more extensive approach that we will adopt. Others include reevaluating trading agreements and our currency policies. All of this is to pursue broader goals and more balanced growth.Southern Weekend: In Tokyo and Shanghai you mentioned twice that the US will not seek to contain Chinas rise. How will this policy take effect?Obama: We have repeated in the current discussions with China that its stability and prosperity is in accordance with US national interests. A prosperous China can help ensure a prosperous and stable Asia. It is just like the stability of South Korea and Japan are beneficial to world peace and US commercial development. The only one thing that can stop this positive outcome is a mutual misunderstanding and misjudgement. This is why we need to not only conduct dialogue on the economics, but also on the security. The more that the US and China trust each other, the smaller the chance of a misunderstanding.南方周末专访奥巴马By Malcolm Moore World Last updated: November 19th, 2009本文作者马尔科姆摩尔是每日电讯报驻上海记者。他2008年7月到中国，之前曾在意大利担任三年电讯报驻罗马记者。再之前，他是每日电讯报的经济记者。奥巴马离开中国前，接受了南方周末专访，南方周末是中国为数不多的直言及改革派报纸。奥巴马在北京接受访问，显示采访内容接受了宣传部的严格审查。发表的内容没有任何的有争议内容，不过，南方周末今天早上发行后，受到几家在京外国媒体的疯狂转载。在上海，这份报纸在街上随处便可以买到，奥巴马的专访仍然包含在内，在中国的互联网上也能看到采访内容。虽然奥巴马在中国访问时，中国的媒体没有被审查，但这次采访的印刷体读者代表中国更广大的普通人能听到奥巴马的心声。有意思的是奥巴马呼吁中美两国能在亚太地区加强军事合作，并许诺美国将重新考虑向中国出口高科技产品。下面是我们对这次采访中文文本的英文译本。如果奥巴马没有显示出以往的口才，那是翻译的问题，我们道歉！南方周末采访实录南方周末：你此次访华即将结束，这是你首次访华，此时此刻，你对此次访华有何感想？奥巴马：此次访华成果丰硕。我们讨论了许多中美双方共同关注的话题：我们两国双边关系的发展，不仅对两国人民关系重大，对全世界都是非常重要的。南方周末：你在上海时提到姚明，我也知道你非常喜欢篮球。你现在还有时间打球吗？能否透露一点你的工作和生活的情况？奥巴马：现在打球的确们没有过去那么多了，但是每周我还是会打一次球的。我喜欢看篮球比赛。我希望能看到上海大鲨鱼队的比赛，不过我没有时间，我也希望能见到姚明。他是我最喜欢的球员之一。南方周末：今年是中美建交30周年。你在记者招待会上表示欢迎一个强大、繁荣并且能在国际舞台上发挥重大作用的中国。联合声明中，中方也表示欢迎美国作为亚太国家，在亚太事务中发挥重要作用。你如何看待中美在亚太地区的合作？奥巴马：首先很明显的是，中国已经成为世界上最重要的经济力量之一，这是过去二十年，世界上发生的最重要的事情之一。中国能够高速发展的部分原因是中美两国良好的贸易关系。更重要的是，中美两国的关系已超越了贸易。在许多重要议题上，相互听取意见，比如气候变化，如果没有中美两国的参与是不能解决的。很快，你们会看到两国广泛的战略合作，其中我们不仅寻求主要经济议题的合作当然这可以给两个国家带来繁荣，我们还会在所有问题上紧密合作，从气候变化到反核扩散，从打击恐怖主义到减少贫困及粮食安全问题。我们希望看到中国在国际舞台上成长。一个更有才智和自信的中国会承担