China: In a visit to Beijing that veered between the solemn and the slapstick, President George Bush worshipped at a state-run "patriotic" church yesterday in an appeal for China to grant greater religious and political freedom to its citizens.
But reflecting the White House's policy of cautious engagement, Mr Bush's lectures about human rights were mixed with entreaties to his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, for greater economic co-operation. Apparently tired after trips to Japan and South Korea, Mr Bush was on mixed form.
At one point, he attempted to dodge a reporter's question about his seeming exhaustion by trying to walk out through double doors that turned out to be locked.
But the visit earned promises by China to curb the huge trade imbalance and an announcement that it will buy 70 Boeing jets worth $4 billion.
Mr Bush's most politically charged act was a visit to Gangwashi "patriotic" church, one of only five Protestant churches permitted in Beijing. He said prayers and wrote in the guest book: "May God bless the Christians of China."
The visit highlighted concerns about freedom of worship. Just over half of China's estimated 80 million Christians attend officially sanctioned churches while the rest worship at underground "house" churches that refuse to accept state control of sermons and appointments.
"My hope is that the government of China will not fear Christians who gather to worship openly," the president said outside the church. "A healthy society is a society that welcomes all faiths."
Before Mr Bush's visit, a preacher, Cai Zhuohua, was jailed for three years for printing unauthorised Bibles. According to the Associated Press, 30 protesters were detained at the church yesterday. Other human rights campaigners were under house arrest for the duration of the visit.
The communist leadership insists that such measures are necessary to ensure social stability. Emphasising that China's rise is peaceful, Mr Hu outscored Mr Bush in the use of the word "democracy" in a joint press address. "Notable and historic progress has been made in China's development of a democratic political system and human rights," he said.
"The Chinese people are exercising their right of democratic elections, democratic decision-making, democratic management and democratic supervision, according to law."
Nonetheless, the hosts denied journalists the chance to ask questions and restricted domestic media coverage of the visit to an Olympic-related photo-opportunity of Mr Bush on a mountain bike.
The leaders attempted to ease tensions surrounding the US trade deficit with China, which is set to hit $200 billion. While making no specific promises, Mr Hu said China would co-operate to reduce the surplus, as well as gradually loosening its control over the renminbi currency.- (Guardian Service)