Yes but can he?

By Yin Hang and Zhu Shanshan

Yuan Shuo

26, designer

I believe this visit is a positive action and that's why I support it. But it's still too early to anticipate the consequences of his visit because no one knows his purpose this time.

And more practically speaking, I hope he will bring solutions to some substantial issues such as the Taiwan issue. We're looking forward to witnessing a positive stance from the US. I hope he can sit down and have a good talk with President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders concerning those problems, because they are what Chinese really care about.

Jack Down

31, dance instructor

He has had a tough job since he was elected. No one man can change everything, but I think he is doing his best in changing and improving things. He needs help to do that. Actually if the world supports him, then things will get better.

I am an American. I have lived in China for five years. One of the last times I went back, when Obama took office, I definitely noticed the difference. People had a desire to change.

I think people want a change and I think he inspires people to make a change.

Zhang Nan

29, self-employed

The US now controls the global oil, gold and US dollar prices. As an ordinary person, I hope those prices can be as low as possible.

He has raised the possibility of global denuclearization. We should acknowledge his courage and boldness of vision, which is something worthy of admiration, although we are not sure how he can achieve this.

Kelly Wang

45, white-collar worker

As the president of a big country, especially amid a world economic downturn, people need him to do something substantive to improve the situation. That's all I want to say to him.

James Cook

60, retired

He is much more open to cooperation with other countries including China. And this is a good thing.

His visit to China will advance that cooperation. Also he will cooperate with the United Nations and other countries.

Already they are talking about cooperation in trade and in the environment, even before his visit. They are talking about cooperation in security. The USA under Obama will support a stronger place for China in the international finance system.

It is not only 'yes we can!' for Americans, but 'yes we can!' for the world on the environment, in proper trade, in finance reform and in people-to-people cooperation. Yes we can!

Nicolas Kovolevich

27, company president

I think from the economic standpoint, if you look at the American stimulus package, I think overall that was about the only fiscal option available to America, because you could see banks closing down and you're sensing mass capital shortages across the US financial system.

I think when the Chinese leader looks at the Obama presidency, there is a shift in the overall tone towards a more cooperative foreign policy that was not particularly spelt out in the Bush administration.

Bilateral relations really depends on the US economy and I think it really depends on China's stance internationally. They want to open up more towards their priority and whether or not there is room for compromise and agreements, it always takes two to tango.

Zhou Dong

30, self-employed

I don't think he can turn the global financial crisis around by himself. He might only influence the world on some issues using his personal character, which might be conducive to the establishment of a new image for the US.

And he might come up with some different solutions to address the Iraq issues and make it clear to the world how a Nobel Peace Prize holder is supposed to behave. However, I still don't believe he can exert much influence in the economic arena.

Ni Feng

professor, Institute of American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China

After Obama began his presidency, he continued his predecessor's policies on China and inherited part of the China policy from the post-Bush administration. Regarding changes, if there are any, I believe President Obama carries a higher expectation toward China in shouldering more of its international responsibilities. That's because since the beginning of his presidency, he has faced a severe global financial crisis, Iran issues, North Korea nuclear problems, which have pressured the US to rely more on China.

The Sino-US relationship has become the most important bilateral relationship in East Asia, so the trend of its development will determine how the structure of East Asia is going to be framed. Bearing that in mind, the US will necessarily focus more on the relationship to manage the transformation of East Asia. And this change in the Sino-US relationship will surely influence other Asian countries.

Sun Zhe

director general, Center for US-China Relations, Tsinghua University, China

Both strategic cooperation and tactical contradictions might ratchet up. An increasing amount of cooperation will be witnessed on issues like environmental protection, fighting against piracy and reforms of the international financial system, which have long been neglected.

On the other hand, however, the closer the bilateral economic ties, the more complicated the relationship between the two sides will be, which increases the possibilities of contradictions.

There is no need to be afraid of the conflict. What is worth worrying about is that there might be no solution to the conflicts. That's why both China and the US should make good use of the existing dialogue systems to strengthen their communications.

Thomas Fingar

Payne Distinguished Lecturer in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, US

China has changed. I am delighted that he's coming for the series of meetings he's got in the region. But there will be a lot more on his agenda than the financial crisis. You know: climate change, North Korea, Iran, and I would assume, Afghanistan and Pakistan. So there is a wide range of issues.

I actually don't think the visit symbolizes the United States is paying more attention to China. The Obama administration has made clear the importance of reaffirming relationships with its allies, to make clear the importance of multilateral approaches to international problems and that we have friends and partners around the world. We are now sort-of allies. I wouldn't read much more into it than that.

Rana Mitter

professor of modern Chinese history and politics, Oxford University, United Kingdom

China and the US have contradictions, so they should talk. They should solve the problems by talking. But I don't think any violent scenario will happen.

As for climate change, I think we all should agree because we only have one planet. We don't have any other world that we can move to. So there is no need to say more.

Of course China wants to have an influence on the world, the US also wants to have an influence on the world, so do European countries. The ways they do this may be different but they do have one same goal: China, the US and European countries all hope other countries admit one's own status. They all want other countries to respect them. It is more a matter of attitude than of ideology.

I think China and the US must cooperate. China and the US have their respective opinions. They may not agree with each other's. They can cooperate by making dialogue and knowing each other's views.

Actually, it works for any other country. The UK and the US, the UK and France – they all have different opinions in some aspects. All these countries should cooperate.