Sino-US ties at new historic stage: Wu

By Zhang Xin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-11 07:01

Proclaiming that the relationship between China and the US is "headed into a new historic stage," Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's People's Congress met Thursday with US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in the highly anticipated visit by the top Chinese legislator.

Wu, invited by Pelosi to Washington DC, is the first top legislator to visit the US in the last two decades and the most senior official to visit the US since US President Barack Obama's new administration.

In his speech Thursday, Wu hailed the US-China relationship as one of the most dynamic and promising in the world, adding that his US trip will inject new impetus to their growing ties.

"Since Obama's inauguration, the US-China relationship has seen a smooth transition and a fresh start," he said in a post-meeting interview with a TV news station in Phoenix. "US-China relationship is now seen as the most important in the world. It is headed into a new historic stage."

Pelosi echoed Wu's optimism but stressed for both countries "to come to some kind of understanding on the subject of climate change."

"Clearly we can learn a great deal from what China has done," she said. "Hopefully, we can learn from each other. Our countries are great, significant and large, their decisions would affect the whole world.

Chinese political science experts praised the friendly inter-congressional exchanges as "a breakthrough" since Obama took office this year.

Tao Wenzhao, a senior expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences said Pelosi's more open attitude from years before to the most populous nation in the world is a reflection of the shift in their relations. "US and China need each other," he said.

He attributed the strengthening of bilateral relations to the expanded interests shared by the two nations.

Wu's visit is very timely, said Gong Li, deputy director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Central Party School. It comes months ahead of the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, Penn., and Obama's scheduled trip to China in November.

Gong said it will allow leaders from both nations to exchange views, particularly in trade and business cooperation in the face of the global financial crisis as well as clean energy.

"The inter-congressional exchange this time featured a tone of cooperation but not criticism from the US side," Gong said. "It demonstrates a healthy enhancement of the bilateral relations under Obama's administration," Gong said.

Shi Yinhong, an expert in international studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing, also said Wu's visit is an opportunity to follow up on issues with "a green focus".

The university expert said the exchange will help the two economic powerhouses to further understand each other's stances and coordinate international and regional issues.

Wu also met Thursday with leaders of both political parties in the US Senate: Democratic Senator Harry Reid and Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. They discussed climate change, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, trade and regional issues.