Obama, Hu schedule joint press conference

At the insistence of the Obama Administration, Chinese President Hu Jintao will take part in a joint press conference with President Barak Obama according to a statement made by the White House today.

The press conference, scheduled for Wednesday, is not something that President Hu normally does.   In China his appearances are often scripted ones with citizens or he makes speeches.    Dealing with a more open media, such as the American press is not typical.

However, the press conference will not be too long, with only four questions scheduled.  Two will be from Chinese reporters and two from American reporters.

The press conference will give President Hu an opportunity to improve China’s image with the American people.

“He wants to try to do a little public relations and get his message across,” said Joseph Cheng, head of the City University of Hong Kong’s Contemporary China Research Center

Subject such as human rights, especially the imprisonment of Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo, support for North Korea, China’s valuation of the yuan, or other touchy subjected are expected to be fielded by the American reporters.