Opinion     

Strategic reaffirmation on China-US relations

China.org.cn, July 18, 2014

• The 6th round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) kicks off in Beijing on July 9, 2014. [Xinhua photo]

  
  
  

  The 6th round of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) and the 5th round of High-level Consultation on People-to-People Exchange (CPE) have come to a successful conclusion. There are over 300 achievements in the outcome lists of the dialogue and consultation. This number sets a new record, and more importantly, each achievement is very concrete and gives clear guidance on China-US cooperation, not only in the bilateral sphere, but also on regional and global dimensions.

  As stated by President Xi Jinping in his address at the joint opening ceremony of the S&ED and CPE, if China and the United States work together, the two countries could achieve major undertakings that serve their own interests and those of the world. However, if the two countries are in confrontation, it will surely spell disaster for both of them and the wider world. It is all the more important that China and the US stand high and look far; staying committed to cooperation and avoiding confrontation benefits not only both countries, but the world as a whole. When faced with problems, it is crucial that China and the US work together to resolve them instead of simply finding the problem fearsome or letting it overtake them.

  President Obama pointed out in his statement to the S&ED, that the US welcomes the emergence of a stable, peaceful, and prosperous China, and is committed to the shared goal of developing over time a “new model” of relations with China. The U.S. should remain determined - even in a relationship as complex as that of China and the United States - to ensure that cooperation defines the overall relationship.

  The two Presidents shared their deep insights on this important relationship with great sincerity. Both countries made great efforts to dispel the mist overshadowing their relationship in the past months and reaffirmed a shared commitment to the building of new model of major-power relations.

  Both sides reaffirmed their strategic intentions. Irrational misunderstanding and miscalculation is one of the major risks that may undermine the overall China-US relationship, hence in-depth strategic communication between the two sides is of utmost importance. In this round of S&ED and CPE, China and the US made good efforts to clarify their strategic intentions. China re-emphasized its unswerving commitment to a path of peaceful development and safeguarding the peace, stability, and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region as well as the world. China also affirmed that it would not seek to “expel the U.S. out of Asia”. The US underscored that neither its rebalancing policy nor its military alliances in the region were targeted at China, and that it had no intention to contain China. These are not diplomatic parlance but reflect a fundamental strategic orientation. Both sides recognize that the world today has undergone profound changes, and a “new cold war” is not a sensible choice. It would be unwise for anyone who lives in the 21st century to think and behave in a way of the 20th or even the 19th century.

  Both sides reaffirmed the effective way of cooperation. The China-US relationship is one of the most important, and at the same time, most complex bilateral relationships in the world. Cooperation and competition are often intertwined. Such a complicated and multi-faceted pattern is very likely to be sustained for the years to come. It properly handled, it will be mutually beneficial; otherwise, it would lead to destructive competition or even conflicts. The key here is to reduce disturbing factors and focus on the positive agendas. The following issues deserve special attention and efforts from both sides.

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