Asia-Pacific

US expert expects US-China co-op at G20 Summit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-11 14:23

NEW YORK - A collaborative US-China relationship and an expression of willingness to work together are expected in bilateral talks between the United States and China at the G20 Summit, said a US expert here on Wednesday.

"The main place where I expect the breakthrough (of G20 Summit) is between the US and China. We both recognize that we cannot go alone. That's not the solution," said Prof. Orville Schell, Arthur Ross Director of Center on US-China Relations of New York-based Asia Society.

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Schell used a metaphor to describe the US-China relations. "The US and China may not always get along, but we are married, whether we like it or not. And there is another interesting point, there is no possibility of divorce," he told Xinhua in an interview.

He said what he really wanted to see during the bilateral talks between leaders of the two countries at the G20 Summit in Seoul, South Korea, is that both nations are dedicated to work as closely as they can to solve those tough issues, even they may not always agree.

"Both countries depend on each other. You cannot and should not escape each other. The interest of China and the interest of the US in so many ways are the same. It's no longer possible for one side just to say no," he said.

He cited world trade, nuclear proliferation, climate change as the extremely important issues for the two countries, and none of these issues China can solve by itself, and the United States cannot decide alone either.

Talking about the background of the G20 Summit this year, Prof. Schell noted that the world needs to redesign the financial architecture and China needs to be brought into this process because it is too big a player to be left out.

"I don't think China's currency is the reason that American economy is having trouble. I believe the US financial investment banking world has done a very serious wrongdoing that brought our economy down. It was not China's fault," he said.

It is expected that the two countries would have an expression of willingness to work together during the G20 Summit, he said.

It is difficult to predict whether there would be any major changes of US-China relations after the midterm elections, because the leadership of the Republicans in the House has very little experience in foreign policy, said Schell.

"The Obama administration will try to remain consistent, but it is going to be weakened and harder, since there will be a lot of criticism from the House and it is going to be pushed more and more by the right wing and by the Tea Party members."

Nevertheless, he predicted a new phenomenon in US-China relations in the next decade, that is, more and more capital flow will come from China to the United States, and the United States could be more welcoming to Chinese investment in the sectors of manufacturing, renewable energy and information technology.

"If we can find a way for China to invest in America, to build infrastructure that the US needs and help create jobs, this will be very positive. China has a lot to offer. The US should not become too resistant and push away Chinese investment in those areas where national security is not involved," he said.

"Both countries are in the same boat. If we get out of the boat, we fall in the water and we sink. So both countries should take willingness to cooperate. Be flexible, be sensible and be constructive," he said.