Biden's next stop: Chengdu

08-19-2011 18:52 BJT Special Report:US Vice President Joseph Biden visits China |

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Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, is the next leg of US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to China. The southwestern Chinese city has been considered the "most appealing" investment base for US companies for four consecutive years. The huge economic potential is one reason behind Biden's Chengdu trip, as Zhang Nini finds out.

Unlike cities such as Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi'an, Chengdu is not a regular choice for visiting foreign leaders.

The most recent trip made by a Washington official was by US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick in 2006. In a Panda Research Center, Zoellick cuddled a 5-month-old cub to highlight the tie between the two countries.

But the appeal of Chengdu went beyond its furry animals. According to a recent report by the American Chamber of Commerce, Chengdu is becoming an investment base for more large scale US companies.

More than one quarter of them clearly expressed interest in expanding to second-tier and third-tier cities in China.

Prof. Tao Wenzhao, Center for China-US Relations, Tsinghua Univ., said, "Chengdu is the largest city in southwest China. It's a land of hope and opportunities..."

The United States gave China a helping hand during the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, donating money and aid to quake survivors. Tao believes that Biden will continue to extend friendship to the people of Sichuan.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping will break precedence to join Biden during his visits to the cities of Dujiangyan and Chengdu. The trip is considered a unique opportunity to develop a friendship at a personal level.

Examples from history abound. The relationship between Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon on one side with Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai on the other was crucial to the development of Sino-US relations.

"And then when China and the US are normalizing our relations, the friendship between Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter also played an important role. These relations will help the two countries to overcome difficulties. If the leaders of the two countries trust each other, we can do a lot. " Professor Tao said.