Cossa China seems very pleased with the outcome of the George W. Bush - Jiang Zemin presidential summit meeting in Shanghai on October 19 along the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Meeting. This was not because a great deal was accomplished, but because of Jiang's extremely modest definition of what constituted a "successful" meeting. All Beijing apparently sought was a photo opportunity and a new slogan. Success was achieved on both accounts, with the Chinese press touting the willingness by both sides to seek a new ``constructive relationship of cooperation.'' This is not insignificant. Both Washington and Beijing were eager to show that relations were on a positive trajectory after the rocky start brought about by the April 1 collision between a Chinese fighter and American reconnaissance plane and a variety of other contentious issues, including continuing American arms sales to Taiwan. The mere fact that President Bush took time out from commanding his war on terrorism to travel to China was seen as an important signal, even if accumulating international support for his anti-terrorism campaign remained a key Bush agenda item during the abbreviated visit. And, slogans are important to China. The operative slogan prior to the APEC visit was candidate Bush's ``strategic competitor'' label; a phrase generally avoided by administration spokesmen after January 20th, but still featured prominently in the press when describing Sino-U.S. relations. As long as Bush was willing to state in Shanghai that he sought a ``constructive, and cooperative'' relationship with China _ which he did (although he added the word ``candid'') _ Beijing was prepared to declare the visit a major success. What Jiang Zemin was apparently not prepared to do during his first face-to-face visit with the new American president (they have had several phone conversations) was attempt to move Sino-U.S. relations to a higher level, as ...
