Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji bantered over a bull and talked about farming on the first afternoon of a historic two-day visit to Chicago, putting aside for the moment the sobering specter of nuclear spies, Tibet and Taiwan that has hovered over his visit to the United States.
The highest-level Chinese leader ever to visit the city, Zhu arrived at O’Hare International Airport at noon Sunday and immediately set the tone for his stay. After walking along a red carpet on the tarmac, Zhu bolted from his security force to meet a group of well-wishers from Chicago’s Chinese community who were cheering from behind a metal barrier.
But while he was warmly greeted, there were also reminders of the tensions. At one stop, his motorcade passed a group of demonstrators demanding freedom for Tibet.
For much of the day, Zhu was upbeat, resorting to his customary humor. When he was given a live bull named Niu Hao, a gift from Hyatt Corp. President Thomas Pritzker, Zhu responded, “I don’t know where I’m going to put it. I don’t even have enough space in my house for my own family members let alone the bull. So, unfortunately, I’ll have to donate it to the Chinese University of Agriculture.”
Returning to a more sober element of his 9-day U.S. visit, Zhu also called for a closer relationship between China and the U.S.
“I believe the Chinese and the American people can learn from one another to develop our friendship,” he said. “Actually there is a lot that we can learn from each other. And I believe friendship between us would be a blessing both for our people and the people of the world.”
The exchange took place in a yard on the Marellbar Farm, an 865-acre livestock and grain complex near Libertyville owned by the Pritzker family.
Zhu inspected an array of farm equipment and products and climbed into the cab of a $250,000 Lexion 480 combine brought to the farm by Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc.
Pritzker gave Zhu the 15-month-old, 1,400-pound, charcoal black Angus bull, which had been bred by the University of Illinois department of animal sciences.
The bull’s name was changed from HO19 to Niu Hao–meaning “good friend” or “good bull” in English.
“We are giving this bull to you because it symbolizes . . . strength, particularly in the economic sphere,” said Pritzker, whose company operates hotels in China.”The bull symbolizes productivity and will provide nutrition to people through science. These are trades critical to sustaining the standard of living in the future.”
“He’s the best bull that we bred last year,” said Doug Parrett, a professor of animal sciences at the University of Illinois.
Together with 50 high-quality bull embryos being sent to China in liquid nitrogen, the bull should be capable of starting a herd of top-of-the-line cattle, Parrett said.
Zhu said China is expanding its agricultural production. He said he has invited U.S. officials to China to develop a farmers’ association similar to the U.S. Farm Bureau.
Pritzker also presented the premier with a Chicago Bulls jacket.
Zhu used the occasion to plug his effort to join the World Trade Organization and asked American farmers to help out in his quest.
More Top Picks Headphones
The remarks came a day after the U.S. and China signed an agreement that opens Chinese markets to American wheat, beef and citrus.
Noting that 40 to 45 percent of Illinois agricultural production is exported, Ronald Warfield, president of the Illinois Farm Bureau, said that as a country with a population of 1.3 billion, “China is obviously a tremendous opportunity.”
“We depend on export for long-term viability,” Warfield said. “Corn prices are down. Agriculture in this country is in a major recession, to say the least. Some sectors are even in depression.”
Zhu’s Boeing 747 Air China jet came to a stop on the military side of O’Hare just before noon. Mayor Richard Daley led a welcoming committee. Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood represented the state.
Some 100 members of the Chicago area’s Chinese community waved Chinese and American flags and shouted their welcome in Zhu’s native tongue. Most were Chinese-Americans born on the mainland or students from China attending Chicago-area universities.
A group of entertainers from the Yellow River Performing Arts in Bloomingdale and the Xilin Foundation, centered in Roselle, wore traditional clothing representing a number of China’s regions and beat out a welcome on small Chinese drums.
Edward Ho, who with Janice Yang directs Yellow River, said his group spent several weeks preparing for the airport greeting.
“All of our members come from China and they are proud the leader of China is coming to visit us,” Ho said.
Alexander Hugh, first vice president of the Chinese American Association of the Greater Chicago Area, said before Zhu’s arrival that the premier’s visit was important.
“It will create more understanding because in the last few years, there have been many misunderstandings between the two countries,” Hugh said. “We want him to clarify the spying and campaign-fund issues so we know what the exact picture is.”
Hugh was referring to allegations that China not only stole U.S. technology dealing with the production of nuclear warheads, but also neutron bomb technology. Zhu denied China had stolen any weapons secrets.
Zhu also denied earlier in Washington that China had made any illegal campaign contributions to the Democratic Party.
Some 150 supporters of a free Tibet stood across from the main entrance of the Chicago Hilton and Towers, which is housing the Chinese delegation.
The Tibetans held signs reading, “Free Tibet Before Free Trade” and “China Out of Tibet.” Members of the group chanted, “Shame, shame, China, shame.”
China, which considers the Himalayan region its own territory, invaded the so-called roof of the world in 1950 and has kept the once-independent nation under rigid control.
“Today we want to make the premier understand that as long as the question of what to do with Tibet remains unresolved, we will protest,” said Sherab Gyatso, director of the Tibetan Alliance of Chicago. “The dalai lama has extended his hand to China to negotiate, but they call him a murderer.”
The group missed Premier Zhu’s grand entrance into the hotel. They arrived minutes later. Inside the hotel, Zhu met with members of the region’s Chinese-American committee. Later he was the guest of honor at a private dinner at the Art Institute of Chicago. Instead of entering the museum’s main entrance on Michigan Avenue, Zhu avoided some 60 Taiwanese and Tibetan protesters by using the rear doors.
“He’s sneaking in the back door,” protesters shouted in Chinese as Zhu’s motorcade of black cars streamed by on Monroe Street.
Leo Huang, who organized the Taiwan Benevolent Association’s protest, said he was not surprised Zhu avoided the chanting crowds, who held up signs reading, “Say no to China’s threatening Taiwan” and “We want democracy.”
“He’s the head of state,” said Huang. “He should face the reality (and criticism). I feel embarrassed for him.”
Zhu is scheduled on Monday to visit the Chicago Mercantile Exchange trading floor, the 911 Emergency Center and the Motorola Museum of Electronics in Schaumburg. He also will address a luncheon sponsored by The Mid-America Committee and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations.
Pritzker summed up Zhu’s visit to his family’s farm by asserting it is imperative that China and the U.S. understand each other.
“The U.S. and China are two major world powers with two different cultures. . . . By including a farm in America’s heartland on his itinerary, Premier Zhu can see close up an aspect of American life that may not be reflected in his other stops.”