Chinese President Jiang Zemin visits Penn

Jiang spoke to 150 in Chinese and English, while Rodin praised his leadership without reservations. If cynical analysts noticed President Clinton's failure to dub this week's Sino-U.S. summit "historic," the rhetorical void was filled by University President Judith Rodin last night as she welcomed Chinese President Jiang Zemin to campus. "Huanying nin," Rodin began in an awkward -- though well-received -- attempt to greet Jiang in Chinese. "We welcome you for this historic occasion," she continued. Standing at a podium decked in triumphant red satin inside an auditorium suffused by the muted crimson glow of spotlights, Jiang replied with "best wishes to the faculty and students of the University of Pennsylvania" in both English and Chinese. One reason Jiang had for praising the University lies in the $250,000 "financial aid" the Wharton School is giving the country for an executive management program to train Chinese government officials. Indeed, Jiang lauded the University's "extensive exchanges and cooperation" with China. He made no mention of his tense interaction on Capitol Hill with human rights advocates -- ranging from President Clinton Wednesday to 50 members of Congress yesterday and punctuated by flocks of protesters every step of the way. Instead, he spoke of "fruitful talks with President Clinton" and the formation of a "strategic partnership" with the U.S. As he moved from a scripted speech in Chinese to English, hailing the event as a "brilliant page to the annals" of U.S.-Chinese cooperation, it seemed that his talk of "partnership" was best-suited for the school itself. For the radiant president, only slightly hoarse from days of travel, Philadelphia was undoubtedly easier than Washington. A smattering of protesters showed up at Drexel, a few more at Penn and 60-80 at Independence Hall. Rodin also proved an easier hostess than those championing China's human rights in Washington. She praised Jiang for his country's economic accomplishments and for leading a country "of 1.3 billion people." Director of International Programs for the Graduate School of Education Cheng Davis, a mainland Chinese native with a significant role in the University's cooperation with China, translated Rodin's comments into Chinese. "The power of your leadership [is] evident," said Rodin to Jiang. "It is especially fitting that you chose to honor the University of Pennsylvania with your visit today," she continued. "[Penn was] the nation's first university, in the home of one of America's earliest leaders, Ben Franklin." The warmth of the lighting, the auditorium and Rodin's greetings exemplified Penn's tradition of close and friendly ties with the People's Republic of China, which she mentioned in her welcome. "Six of our schools currently enjoy collaborative relationships," Rodin said, emphasizing Penn's recent undertaking to help improve the efficiency of China's state-owned enterprises -- a difficult task. In a project announced Monday, Wharton will help to fund a joint effort with the Education School to give executive management training to the officials who run the state businesses -- which make up the majority of the Communist nation's corporations. The project will be the first effort by an academic institution to assist the Chinese in such a way, and it is the product of a long history of Penn-China cooperation. Education Dean Susan Fuhrman is now in Shanghai leading a delegation of researchers on a tour of China. And the Medical School is extremely involved in student/faculty exchanges. In addition, Penn's is a cooperation accompanied by almost none of the suspicion and underlying tension that has characterized the Sino-U.S. summit so far. Inside the Museum, faculty and students -- invited primarily on the basis of East Asian affiliations -- were respectful for Jiang. In contrast to the controversy Jiang's pending visit to Harvard has sparked -- police expect it will draw about 3,000 demonstrators -- those in attendance showed mostly support for the leader. "This is a big event, and I'm glad to be here," said Ruth Chang, a sophomore Asian and Middle Eastern Studies major and member of the Penn Taiwanese Society. "Penn might be a bit too accommodating, but I think it's a good idea to have relations with China." Another Taiwanese member of the audience, Mandarin lecturer Min-min Liang said she did not have anything bad to say about mainland China, and added, "I'm happy to be here." Outside, a crowd of protesters -- advocating human rights, Tibetan freedom and Taiwan separatism -- waved posters. Another group of mainland students, draped in a P.R.C. flag, assembled across the street from the protesters to counteract their angry protests with words of support for Jiang. But a few graduate students shouting "Taiwan, island of freedom" notwithstanding, the Taiwanese community -- like the rest of the University -- seemed welcoming towards Jiang. "One thing that's clear is how seriously Penn is taken internationally," AMES Professor Paul Rakita Goldin said after the speech as Rodin escorted Jiang around the Rotunda for a look at the Museum's Chinese art collection.