President Obama's China Visit

With 30 days to go until the new president of the United States is sworn into office I have been debating with friends and colleagues which country President Obama will visit first after he is inaugurated and Senator Clinton is confirmed by the Senate.

The short list of countries currently includes:

1. United Kingdom - the traditional favorite

2. Canada - Essential to Detroit rescue plan

3. Japan - closest Asian ally

4. Mexico - a wild card nominee

5. China - Largest holder of US Treasuries

My logic for picking China as the first destination is based on the principle that you always visit your largest investor first - that means China.

If President Obama is serious about improving America's position in the world after 8 dark years under Bush then a visit to China would break new ground. it could prove to the entire world that Obama is serious about new directions --- he calls that change.

He can change the global game by demonstrating that a US-China global partnership could be friendly
and does not have to be confrontational. The US economy needs China's economy to keep expanding. China needs US technology and management know how. There is a natural match.

China built an industrial economy in 30 years. it took 100 years to accomplish the same level in the west. China also created 100 years of industrial pollution in 30 years. This is a GLOBAL GREEN opportunity for both nations.

Regardless of where President Obama goes first I'm sure it will be successful. A visit to China first would break new ground and set his administration's diplomatic direction - a direction of change.