BEIJING -- Many Chinese reacted with pleasure at President Obama's re-election — and frustration at their own, tightly closed political system. Others expressed hope that a leadership transition that formally starts Thursday with a Communist Party congress will gradually introduce political reform.
BEIJING -- Many Chinese reacted with
pleasure at President Obama's re-election - and frustration at their
own, tightly closed political system. Others expressed hope that a
leadership transition that formally starts Thursday with a Communist
Party congress will gradually introduce political reform.
Given
the growing ties between the USA and China, the world's two largest
economies, many Chinese doubted that the often harsh rhetoric toward
China aired during the presidential campaigns would translate into
significant policy change toward the Asian giant.
Chinese
President Hu Jintao on Wednesday congratulated Obama, the state-run news
agency Xinhua reported. Hu said in a message that China-U.S. relations
made positive progress in the past four years as a result of joint
efforts.
Also, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, in line to be
named the new Communist Party leader next week, congratulated Joe Biden
on his re-election as U.S. vice president.
The results came late
Wednesday morning Beijing time, when most of China was at work, but
some citizens followed closely online, on TV and at an election results
party held in a Beijing hotel by the U.S. Embassy for Chinese guests and
media to experience the U.S. system.
"Most Chinese prefer Obama,
as we know more about him, he's shown his ability over four years," said
He Minjuan, after posing for pictures at the event between life-size
cutouts of the two candidates. He, 25, researches early American
literature at a university in Hohot, Inner Mongolia, where she uses
videos of Obama speeches to teach English classes. "I like his passion.
My students can learn his values, how to be a good man and his views of
the world."
She enjoyed participating in a mock vote - she went
for Obama - and recalled her single experience of voting in China, for
university representatives to the local people's congress, four years
ago. "It's just formalism, as we don't know who any of the candidates
are. The real power is with the Communist Party, not the people's
deputies and this is a real problem. But I have faith in my country and I
have confidence it will change."
USA Today