China and US should focus on what really matters
- By Cui Tiankai
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E-mail China Daily, September 2, 2015
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Strategic and Economic Dialogue principals, including Vice-Premier Wang Yang (first left), Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (second left) and State Councilor Yang Jiechi (third left), meet with US President Barack Obama and members of his Cabinet in the Cabinet Room at the White House in Washington on Wednesday. [Photo/Agencies] |
Despite thorny issues that often dominate the headlines, China and the United States are working closely on almost every major global issue. This cooperation is not only out of good will, but also on the fundamental interests of both countries and their shared responsibilities to the world.
The landmark expansion of the Information Technology Agreement (ITA) in July was the first major tariff-eliminating deal at the World Trade Organization in almost two decades. Because of this deal, about $1.3 trillion worth of IT trade will be conducted with zero tariff rate per year, benefiting numerous businesses, workers and consumers worldwide. This deal would not have been possible without a critical agreement between China and the United States last November and close coordination and cooperation between the two sides.
As each other's second-largest trading partner and the two most important trading countries in the world, what really matters to China and the United States is not who has the privilege to write trade rules, but how to write rules together with other countries in a bid to jointly promote open, transparent and rule-based economic cooperation that benefits all. Certainly a lot more can be done down the road.
Tackling climate change is a priority for both China and the United States. Both have made bold commitments of cutting carbon emissions and are determined to promote comprehensive and balanced outcomes in the 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris. Both believe that reducing carbon emissions will not impede economic growth but generate more jobs and opportunities, and bring more practical cooperation between them.
The US demand for solar panels and wind turbines is rising rapidly, and Chinese companies can provide high-quality and economical products to meet that demand. China is also looking to build more nuclear power plants, apply more clean-coal technology and increase the exploration and consumption of natural gas. American products and expertise are surely welcomed. In order for this to happen, however, the United States should lift outdated restrictions on the export of high-tech energy products and avoid implementing unbalanced trade remedy actions against Chinese products.
The recent breakthrough in the Iranian nuclear negotiations would not have been possible without effective China-US cooperation and the steadfast commitment of both sides to safeguarding the international nonproliferation regime. Over the years, China has observed every UN Security Council resolution with regard to Iran and played a unique and constructive role in fostering diplomatic solutions. This proves that as long as there is a common goal, the different approaches employed by China and the United States can complement each other and produce win-win results.
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