The much-reported visit of China's president Jiang Zemin to the United States was in part the usual deliberate show. But the Chinese leader showed, according to PNS commentator Ling Chi Wan, that he is both able to understand U.S. politics and willing to meet the U.S. half way in a two-superpower world. Ling Chi Wang is head of ethnic studies at University of California Berkeley and an expert on Asian-American affairs

China's President Jiang Zemin came to the United States when China-bashing was at its height. He leaves with the assurance that he has overcome all major obstacles on his critics' home ground, and laid the foundation for cooperation between China and the United States in the coming century.

The summit between President Clinton and Jiang had the usual trappings of a high-stakes political drama, U.S.-style. There was a formal welcome ceremony at the White House, a variety of photo opportunities from Honolulu to Cambridge, banquets hosted by supporters -- and protests organized by various interest groups.

But beyond the pomp and circumstance, the sound and fury, both presidents acted courageously, in the face of domestic resistance, on behalf of their respective national interests.

In the process, they have laid the foundation of engagement and cooperation for the two superpowers for the 21st century.

Acting like a statesman, Clinton treated Jiang and China with respect, over strenuous objections from both left and right in the United States. His message was simple and direct -- China is too important for world peace, stability and prosperity to be ignored.

In addition, he argued that the United States had only one choice if it did not want to be excluded from China as a market or begin another costly military buildup in Asia -- it must enter into some engaged relationship with the world's only other significant world power.

The day before Jiang's first US stop in Hawaii, Clinton outlined six items for a summit agenda. These involved promoting and maintaining peace globally and in Asia, stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction, tackling the drug trade and other international criminal activity, protecting global trade, and environmental protection. All six are of utmost importance -- and all require the cooperation of China.

For his part, Jiang chose to visit six symbolic sites. Pearl Harbor recalled the US-Chinese alliance of World War II and was followed by Colonial Williamsburg and Philadelphia, sites linked with American democracy. Then he went to the U.S. Congress, home of the country's most vocal critics of China, Wall Street (the temple of capitalism) and Harvard University (the temple of knowledge).

Jiang got a taste of in-your-face American politics during his trip. He also got a chance to demonstrate his understanding and his willingness to meet the United States at least halfway.

Jiang understood that he had to let politicians do their jawboning, and pass some toothless legislation to appease their constituents. He did that on Capitol Hill. He also knew he had to let militants of both left and right blow off steam, and he did that at Harvard. Above all, he knew that such "unpleasantness" is part of dealing with the United States, and means very little in the context of the big picture of global politics.

China, acting confidently, is now prepared to tolerate differences, compromise and even make concessions on some issues raised by its critics, including the establishment of a "Tibetan desk" in the U.S. State Department, and the eventual release of dissidents like Wang Dan and Wei Jing-sheng. This is partly because they understand that such moves are necessary to keep Clifton's policy toward China on course, and to satisfy his critics right and left.

Jiang even stunned his audience at Harvard when he seemed to concede that "shortcomings" and "mistakes" might have occurred during his government's violent crackdown at Tiananmen Square.

But it does not seem likely that China will make concessions on independence for Tibet and Taiwan -- and Clinton's Voice of America address made it clear that he recognized that.

President Jiang returns to China knowing that he has helped build the basis for a lasting strategic cooperation.