China Orders 3 Days of Mourning, Will Halt Torch

Leaders also discuss North Korea

(NEWSER) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing today, and emerged with a number of deals—including one that will marginalize the US dollar in Asia. The countries agreed to promote direct yuan-yen trades, the Wall Street Journal reports; until now, the money has usually been converted to dollars first. Japan will also hold yuan in its typically dollar-dominated foreign-exchange reserves. More»

Hu's likely successor a well-connected political whiz

(NEWSER) - Next year, Hu Jintao is expected to step down as China’s president, leaving Xi Jinping in charge. He’s a mystery to most in his country, the New York Times notes, but he has ascended from regional leader to vice president on the strength of political savvy and family connections. The Times describes Xi as a pragmatist with a “conciliatory leadership style” who hasn’t shied from criticizing the West. More»

Otherwise, 'our relations will suffer constant trouble or even tension'

(NEWSER) - Hu Jintao is willing to make diplomatic nice-nice on all facets of US-China relations—with two important exceptions, reports the Christian Science Monitor . Taiwan and Tibet. Both "concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and they represent China's core interests," he told US business leaders today. "We should treat each other with respect." Or as the CSM translates: "Butt out." More»

You might say lawmakers are a bit unhappy with China

(NEWSER) - Last night’s state dinner was fun and all, but now Chinese President Hu Jintao will have to face the music. He hits Capitol Hill today, where lawmakers have been griping about him—specifically, about his country’s economic policies and human rights violations. Sen. Harry Reid called Hu a “dictator” during a recent radio interview, and on CNN, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said China is a “gangster regime that murders their own people and should be treated in that way," the New York Times reports. More»

Head table included actor BD Wong, everyone ate apple pie

(NEWSER) - Sure, everybody who is somebody got an invite to last night's state dinner, which 225 people attended. But who got seated at the head table with President Obama and guest of honor Hu Jintao? Gawker has the list, which includes:

• Law and Order star BD Wong
• Bill and Hillary, along with Jimmy and Roslyn, and John Kerry and Teresa
• GE's Jeff Immelt and wife Andrea (who's next to President Obama)
• Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and wife Maggie
• Communist Party bigwig Ling Jihua