WHITE HOUSE NOTEBOOK: Language Skills On Display

CHARLES HUTZLER

SHANGHAI (AP) — Chinese students visiting Monday with President Barack Obama during a town hall-style meeting wanted to show off their language skills. The U.S. ambassador to China did the same.

Obama's event with students here featured more spoken English than Chinese — except for Ambassador Jon Huntsman, Obama's representative to Beijing and a former Mormon missionary to Taiwan, who introduced Obama with polished Chinese.

"I don't know what he said, but I hope it was good," Obama laughed as he took the podium for what was described as the first town hall-style meeting between Chinese students and a U.S. president.

Many of the students asked questions in English about Obama's views on Internet censorship, global leadership and Taiwan. Obama responded in English and translators made sure students understood the answers in Chinese.

To open, Obama greeted the students in their native language — but not before a last-minute check with Huntsman.

"I'm very sorry that my Chinese is not as good as your English," Obama said. "But I am looking forward to this chance to have a dialogue.