( CNN ) -- Chinese media on Wednesday played up the positives in Xi Jinping 's visit to Washington , avoiding mention of U.S. criticism of human rights but broaching issues of trade and U.S. discontent with the strength of the Chinese currency . A commentary in the official China Daily said U.S. President Barack Obama was deflecting criticism of his own domestic political problems by drawing attention to the rivalry over the currencies , but that the U.S. administration had little heart for an open fight over the issue . `` When the Senate was about to vote on a bill to punish 'currency manipulators ' last fall , the White House put it off with strong words and possibly behind-the-scene political maneuvers , '' the newspaper said in a commentary . `` Senior economic officials in the Obama administration know that unless all the major Asian currencies increase in value , even a drastic revaluation of the yuan would simply mean U.S. imports from China would just switch to the other countries in the region . '' The U.S. has long called for the Chinese currency , the yuan or renminbi , to be floated to gain its true value . The administration claim that an artificially suppressed currency is unfair to U.S. exporters , making it cheaper for suppliers to source Chinese manufactured goods . The timing of the visit was not lost on the pro-government Global Times which said the Valentine 's Day meeting showed all the complexity of a romantic story . `` China is a newcomer on the diplomatic stage of major powers . It is still unfamiliar with how to use its power and how to deal with provocations from smaller countries , '' the newspaper said in an editorial . `` Facing giants like the U.S. and Europe , China is accustomed to acting with care . It never stirs up trouble willingly , instead , when a crisis occurs , China 's first reaction is to seek to defuse tension . '' A common theme in Chinese diplomacy and in its official media is that when backed into a corner , China must pursue its own interests . `` China does not need to satisfy the West at the expense of its own interests . China will not provoke the U.S. and Europe , but it has its own principles to follow , '' the editorial said . `` Chinese officials should take opportunities to make the world understand these . '' While the Chinese also have trade complaints against the U.S. , in particular U.S. export controls on high-tech exports , there was no mention of issues that have seen China excluded from U.S. preferential trade right status . Similarly , there was little mention of U.S. criticism of China 's human rights record or its position on Syria , both of them sticking point in Sino-U.S. relations . Xi -- who is being groomed for the Chinese presidency - is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit since Obama launched a new U.S. policy in Asia in November designed to reassert its influence in the Pacific . Beijing has expressed misgiving about the U.S. `` pivot '' which is pushing for a new free-trade agreement with at least eight countries in the Asia region and has secured military basing rights in Australia .
Chinese media plays up positives of Xi 's U.S. visit . Muted commentary on issues such as human rights and Syria . Chinese media says Obama deflecting criticism of his domestic policies .