Developing Sino-US ties a global contribution

(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-04-15 07:33

Editor's Note: At a recent seminar sponsored by China Daily, leading international studies researchers analyzed current Sino-US relations and offered their opinions on how to improve and develop bilateral ties. The following is one viewpoint.

By Ruan Zongze

Chinese President Hu Jintao is scheduled to start his formal visit to the United States on Tuesday. His visit will enhance strategic mutual trust between China and the United States, attract broader attention to Sino-US relations and foster a better environment of public opinion for the sustained and steady development of bilateral relations.

Looking back at nearly 30 years of relations, constructing steadily developing Sino-US relations is not only beneficial to the two countries, but also an example of two great countries assuming responsibility for the world.

Since the beginning of the new century, bilateral ties between the two countries have made progress and are maturing in many ways.

For a start, Sino-US relations have entered a comparatively long period of relatively steady development.

Since the late 1980s and early 1990s, bilateral relations between the two countries have, for the first time, had four to five years of relatively stable development. On the whole, despite disputes and differences, Sino-US ties are advancing and co-operation in various areas are deepening, helping build a solid foundation for the next phase of upgrade.

Strategic communication between the two countries has achieved unprecedented strengthening. China and the United States have maintained frequent, high-level contact in recent years, with the leaders of both countries taking a few opportunities every year to meet and exchange ideas. Be it at the United Nations General Assembly meetings, during the annual summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Organization or on the sidelines of group dialogue, exchanges between the two governments have been gaining depth.

US President George W. Bush has visited China three times; the US secretary of state and Chinese foreign minister have kept in constant contact through their hotline connection. Also, the US secretary of state and secretary of finance have both visited China many times, and US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld visited Beijing for the first time last year.

More importantly, China and the US have opened strategic talks on a regular basis since last year with two rounds of dialogue each held in Beijing and Washington. This kind of high-level communication has enabled both sides to exchange views on major issues as they came up, enhanced mutual strategic understanding and increased mutual trust while clearing up questions.

China and the US have beefed up co-operation on the regional level, which is particularly prominent in pushing forward the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue in recent years. China's role as a promoter of stability in Asia will become more prominent in coming years.

As the top trading partner of most Asian nations and regions, China will care even more about the stability and prosperity of the region and shoulder greater responsibility for the improvement of regional stability and development. China welcomes the United States to also play a constructive role in East Asia.

The continuous development of Sino-US economic and trade relations have benefited both sides tremendously. The Christian Science Monitor ran a feature last December, titled "A year without made-in-China," describing how an American family discovered a mess after boycotting Chinese-made products for nearly a year.

At the same time, American products have also entered the Chinese market and Chinese households in greater quantities. This proves that Sino-US trade ties have affected the daily lives of ordinary people in both countries deeply.

This is the foundation of and driving force behind the deepening bilateral trade. Of course, the two countries still have disputes over such issues as trade imbalance, the renminbi exchange rate and intellectual property rights. But it requires efforts by both countries to solve the problems.

Even if they cannot be solved overnight, the two sides still need to control and manage the disputes through dialogue so the issues do not grow or get out of hand.

China and the United States have reached a more common understanding on maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits.

The US side has clearly expressed its opposition against unilaterally changing the status quo by either side of the Taiwan Straits. And "Taiwan independence" is exactly what threatens the status quo in the region.

The Anti-Secession Law adopted by the National People's Congress of China is designed to protect peace and stability in that area. The Chinese mainland has made enormous efforts to improve relations between the both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

The China-US relations are very complicated. The complexity is reflected in the fact that the bilateral ties are no longer a topic merely for diplomatic strategy discussions, but intertwined with fundamental changes taking place within the two countries.

Therefore, one word or one point of view can no longer describe the rich implications of the relationship. It requires analysis from a multitude of angles.

The Sino-US relationship is an irreconcilable match-up of a "you lose, I win" mentality. China's development does not translate into the decline of the United States.

In fact, while China makes headway in long-term development, US economic development is still the fastest among developed countries.

In the past 10 years or so, China and the United States have become the "twin engines" driving the growth of world economy. China has developed under the general framework of the current international system, which has kept a considerable space for China's development. As a leading builder of the current international system, the United States can benefit from the current international system as much as China does by keeping it intact.

Sino-US ties are at a very critical phase of development at the moment. The two countries are seeing their common interests growing instead of shrinking, and the range of co-operations between them is expanding.

China and the United States are teaming up, directly or otherwise, in many areas of international affairs, with increased co-operation on such issues as the reform of the United Nations, the Middle East and non-conventional security.

The content of Sino-US relations is also growing and becoming a force causing the international system to change by the day. The international community, meanwhile, is becoming accustomed to examining Sino-US ties within its general framework.

Its expectations for Sino-US bilateral ties have apparently increased, a change never seen before.

The challenge posed by this change is that, when a third party is not available to act as the buffer between China and the United States, the two countries must resolve how to coexist with each other and identify the other's position in its strategic manoeuvring, from a long-term point of view not attempted before. This means China and the United States need to adapt to each other's presence.

Last September, Chinese President Hu Jintao, in his speech titled "Working hard to build a harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity" at the summit meeting marking the 60th anniversary of the United Nations, put forward China's idea of building a "harmonious world" and the all-important view on how a developing China should coexist with the rest of the world.

This is a new philosophy of handling world affairs that China has formed in the process of globalization. Globalization has exerted a tremendous impact on international relations. The world now needs peace and prosperity more than ever. Building a harmonious world will prove an effective way to reach the goal.

However, it has not been, and will not be, a smooth ride for Sino-US relations.

Differences over political structure and system, level of development and values must not be neglected. Structural friction between the two sides are bound to happen every now and then, and the ripple effect of that friction simply cannot be willed away.

As such, to handle the important yet complex relationship between China and the United States requires viewing it from a vantage point and a firm bearing on the right direction.

It also demands stronger management in actual execution to keep the differences and disputes under control and, under certain instances, reduce friction, cushion conflict and eliminate disruption.

Last November, Bush said during his visit to China: "Together, we can accomplish a lot."

At present, as international order is undergoing a profound transition and as globalization is progressing in both scope and depth, China and the United States have the responsibility to team up as "stakeholders," while the world expects the two countries to keep their bilateral relations in stable development. The healthy and steady development of Sino-US ties is in itself a contribution to world peace and development.

The author is deputy director of and a researcher with the Institute of International Studies.

(China Daily 04/15/2006 page4)