Remember US values when lobbying there

• Source: Global Times
• [23:16 November 18 2009]
• Comments

GT: Inside the US, what is the general attitude of the Jewish population toward China?

Rosen: It's a positive one. We know China has no anti-Semitism. We are always thankful of Chinese people for that and for those Chinese who saved Jews in World War II.

We know that you have trade relations with Israel. We get along with the Chinese community.

GT: Last year, several Jewish groups in the US called for boycotting the Beijing Olympics. How should we see this?

Rosen: They probably didn't call for boycotting Beijing Olympics because of Jewish issues, but for some other issues.

You will always find some communities in any places anywhere in the world who may oppose something and may call for a boycott.

They were unimportant. I wouldn't pay attention to it.

It was not highlighted in the Jewish community. The Jewish community tends to be very liberal and they may disagree with certain issues in your country or countries you support. American people and some in the world oppose that, and some of them are Jewish.

GT: There are some Jewish politicians in the US who take a strong stance against China. What's their influence on US policy toward China?

Rosen: The fact that they are Jewish is not relevant. They are politicians, American politicians, and they represent Americans. They may happen to be Jewish, and they may disagree with some Chinese issues, but connecting the two is not correct.

Some Americans might disagree with your political system, since we are the cradle of democracy. We believe in individual rights. We don't agree with many other countries, but we can still be friends.

GT: Chinese companies may meet local resistance when they try to expand in the US market. How should they work to avoid that?

Rosen: I don't think Chinese companies have problems in the US. Some Chinese companies have problems entering into the US market. It depends on the industrial sector they operate in. Chinese entrepreneurs are quite welcome in the US and they shouldn't be fearful of that.

But on some sensitive business, China has to be thoughtful of what the reaction would be. They have to anticipate the reaction and work to limit the damage of that reaction.

Chinese business can't just parachute into America. They have to anticipate the problems involved. The technology sector is probably problematic.

I don't think Chinese companies are particularly anticipating these problems, working through them, and doing the right public relations campaigns.

China needs to continue to improve its image in the US. We have spent 60 years looking at China as our opposition, and sometimes as an adversary. China had not worked to change that image. China had been at war with the US in the past, and China used to be an enemy of the West.

In terms of image, we have lots of work to do. China needs to send the message to the US population that China is part of a different future. We are not enemies any more and we are working together positively.

The reason to speak to the US public is that because US politicians are elected, they tend to say things that get them support.

I don't think they are right. Politicians don't necessarily have to take an anti-China position.