It will not quite have the significance of Nixon in China – I can't see an opera about it – but President Obama's visit there does have huge significance.
In 1972, when President Nixon went there, it was the leader of the world's largest economy opening up the relationship with the leaders of the world's most populous country. Now it is the leader of the world's largest economy meeting the leaders of the second largest economy, for China is currently passing Japan in the economic league table to take the number two spot. If, in another 37 years' time, the president of the US visits China, it will be the leader of the world's second largest economy visiting the world's largest one.
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