China Prez Hu Jintao Lands in U.S.

The eagle has landed. Chinese President Hu Jintao landed Tuesday at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland for his diplomatic visit to the U.S., where he was greeted by Vice President Joe Biden and a military color guard. This week, Hu Jintao gave a rare interview to The Washington Post where he said it’s important for the U.S. and China to find “common ground” on issues ranging from combating terrorism to improving the environment through clean energy. President Obama plans to meet with the Chinese president to discuss economic, trade, and security issues, and is sparing no expense as host, welcoming Hu Jintao with a lavish state dinner Wednesday. It’s a far cry from 2006, when Hu Jintao was greeted by then-President George W. Bush with a working lunch; by most accounts, he never forgave Bush for the perceived insult.