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Chinese Sad to See Bush Go

President's free-trade, Taiwan policies get thumbs-up

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 15, 2009 6:36 AM CST

(Newser) – George Bush is leaving office with rock-bottom ratings in the US but he'll be missed by his many Chinese fans, reports the Los Angeles Times. The president—affectionately called Xiao Bush, or "Young Bush"—is credited with helping China's economy blossom with his free-trade policies. Many fear his successor will take a more protectionist line.

Bush's relations with China started off rocky but the countries grew closer in the wake of 9/11. The president's decision not to boycott the Beijing Olympics was received with deep gratitude. "Bush made some mistakes in foreign policy, especially with Iraq, but for the Chinese, he has been a true friend," said a visitor to a Beijing exhibition celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations between the US and China.

[Images (6)]

[Quotes (2)]

President George W. Bush, left, with President Hu Jintao of China before their meeting at the APEC Summit in Lima, Peru Friday, Nov. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Lawrence Jackson)

Chinese President Hu Jintao greets President W. Bush in Beijing in August. (AP Photo/Guang Niu/Getty, Pool)

President Bush waves the flag as he watches the swimming competitions in the National Aquatics Center at the2008 Olympics in Beijing in August. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

George and Laura Bush pose for a photo with Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife, Liu Yongqing, before a welcome banquet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in August. (AP Photo/Guang Niu )

A Chinese woman laughs as she gets her photo taken by a giant painting of President Bush greeting Chinese President Hu Jin Tao, outside a gallery in Shenzhen, China. (Getty Images)

In this 1972 file photo, President Richard Nixon shakes hands with Chinese communist party leader Chairman Mao Zedong during Nixon's groundbreaking trip to China. (AP Photo/File)

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Our fear over Obama is that he will tie human rights, climate changes and so on as conditions for trade policy. That would make China
lose face. - Shen Dingli, a professor of American studies at Fudan University in Shanghai

The older generation in China likes the Bush name and also the Clinton name because they are familiar and they are a dynasty. But the younger people, they go with a winner. They are intrigued by Obama. - Russell C. Leong, director of the US-China Media Brief at UCLA

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

Shannonals

Jan 16, 2009 11:16 PM CST

Corona_king, with as much as you love calling people commiunist, the very fact that the present, "King" of communist governments will miss your boy Bush say alot. Got a little Red in you don't you CK.

vendetta

Jan 15, 2009 7:14 PM CST

If this isnt a true indicator of Bush I don't know what is.

Forderon

Jan 15, 2009 3:00 AM CST

Nice job spinning that. Bills can only start in Congress but who proposed and pushed them to pass it? That would be Bush and his cabinet. And yes, he is a fascist. Under his watch, the US has become a borderline fascist nation and the proof is right there for everyone to see. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAV87X5keQ0

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China • presidency • 2008 Beijing Olympics • Chinese economy • free trade • George W. Bush • Chinese Communist party

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Chinese Sad to See Bush Go