Never mind the protesters. Chinese President Jiang Zemin came home from the United States on Tuesday with just what he wanted - the glow from being treated as a world leader and courted by captains of American industry.
Despite a lack of major agreements and open criticism by President Clinton of China's human-rights record, the visit was a triumph in Beijing's effort to throw off the remnants of its post-Tiananmen Square diplomatic isolation.Jiang's reception may have been cooler than he wanted, but it confirmed to Chinese leaders that Clinton is willing to deal with them despite disputes on human rights, trade and other issues.
Smiling but looking tired, the Chinese leader was greeted in Beijing at a brief ceremony by Premier Li Peng and Cabinet members at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
"Very good trip," he said in English to reporters.
Jiang struck the same optimistic note in a speech in Los Angeles on his last day in the United States.
"I am convinced that through the concerted efforts of the two governments and two peoples, China and U.S. relations will enter into a new stage of sound and stable development," he said Sunday night.
Chinese state media declared the eight-day trip "highly successful" and lavished coverage on Jiang's banquet at the White House, red-carpet tours of high-tech factories and meetings with prominent Chinese-Americans.
"This visit is a significant event marking the end of the twists and turns in Chinese-U.S. relations over the past few years," Foreign Ministry spokesman Tang Guoqiang told reporters.
Most significant, Tang said, was the decision to build a "strategic partnership for the 21st century." To Beijing, that means Washington has agreed to be less confrontational and treat China as an equal.
The official Xinhua news agency quoted from a message of thanks from Jiang to Clinton that also stressed the theme of a strategic partnership.
"The attainment of this goal . . . also contributes to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large," the message said.