16 January 2009
Yang Jiechi
In the early 1970s, Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, acting on the fundamental interests of the Chinese people and people of the whole world, made the strategic decision to re-open the door of contact between China and the United States. President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 marked the end of mutual estrangement that had existed between the two countries since the founding of the People’s Republic. At the end of the 1970s, Comrade Deng Xiaoping, with a strategic vision and long-term perspective, seized the opportunity and realized the official establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States on 1 January 1979. The establishment of China-US diplomatic ties was an epoch-making event. It not only opened a new chapter in bilateral relations, but also exerted positive and far-reaching impact on the development of the international situation.
I
In the past 30 years, profound changes have taken place in the world, in China and in China-US relations. The Cold-War confrontation between the United States and the former Soviet Union no longer exists. The world is moving toward multipolarity. Economic globalization and scientific and technological revolution are gaining momentum. The pursuit of peace, development and cooperation has become the irreversible trend of the times. Following the path of reform and opening-up, China has made remarkable progress in all socialist undertakings and the whole nation has taken on a new look. The future and destiny of China are increasingly connected with those of the world.
Despite twists and turns, China-US relations have moved forward steadily and achieved historic growth. Dialogue and exchanges between the two countries at the top and other levels are increasing and the scope of their cooperation is expanding. The two sides have put in place over 60 dialogue and cooperation mechanisms covering the political, diplomatic, economic, military, cultural, educational and scientific and technological fields. Their business ties have been growing markedly. Bilateral trade has jumped from US$ 2.4 billion in 1979 to over US$ 300 billion last year. The two countries are now each other's second largest trading partners. In the early days of their diplomatic relations, there was little contact between the people of the two countries. Today, over 2.1 million mutual visits are made between them every year, and more than 5,000 people travel across the Pacific each day. Thirty-five twin province/state and 145 twin city relationships have been established between the two sides. Development of China-US relations has contributed significantly to the well-being of the two peoples and to world peace and development.
Chinese leaders of successive generations have devoted their wisdom and efforts to the development of China-US relations. Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai initiated the process of normalization of China-US relations. Comrade Deng Xiaoping was instrumental in the establishment and development of diplomatic relations. The third generation of collective central leadership with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core responded calmly to major changes in the international situation and firmly maintained the steady growth of China-US relations, thus bringing into the 21st century a China-US relationship featuring sustained development. The CPC Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as the General Secretary, in a pragmatic and pioneering spirit, reached agreement with US leaders on promoting the all-round growth of the constructive and cooperative relationship between the two countries in the 21st century, which greatly advanced dialogue, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in all fields.
II
Since the beginning of the new century, especially in recent years, China-US relations have made continued new progress along the track of constructive cooperation. They have taken on new dimensions in keeping with the trend of the times and have acquired greater global and strategic significance.
There have been more frequent exchanges at the top and other levels between the two sides. In 2008 alone, President Hu Jintao and President Bush met four times, exchanged letters on ten occasions and had four telephone conversations. President Hu also exchanged views with President-elect Obama over the telephone, during which both sides expressed the readiness to expand China-US cooperation in all fields and take bilateral relations to a higher level.
Cooperation between the two sides in the economic, trade and a wide range of other areas has continued to deepen. In recent years, the two sides have conducted dialogue and cooperation in a number of new areas, such as energy, the environment, investment protection, financial services, product quality and food safety, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. The Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation Framework concluded and relevant action plans agreed between the two sides have become another important symbol of stronger mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
China and the United States have had more fruitful communication and coordination on international and regional affairs as well as on global issues. They conducted, together with other parties concerned, extensive coordination on issues like counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, the Korean nuclear issue and the Iranian nuclear issue, and strengthened communication and cooperation in fighting transnational crimes, coping with climate change, natural disaster relief and the prevention and control of major diseases. They also engaged in communication and coordination with other parties concerned after the financial crisis broke out. While attending the G20 Summit of Financial Markets and the World Economy in Washington, President Hu Jintao stated China's strong commitment to work with the United States and the rest of the international community to maintain global financial stability and promote world economic growth.
The friendly exchanges between the two countries are more robust than ever before. Many American products and sport stars now enjoy great popularity in China. Similarly, products "made in China" are a must in the daily lives of the American people. More and more Americans are studying Chinese. There are now nearly 1,000 colleges and universities in the United States where Chinese is taught. People of the two countries have sympathized with and supported each other in the face of natural disasters. After Hurricane Katrina struck, the Chinese Government and people offered timely assistance to the disaster-hit areas. In the aftermath of the massive earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, the US Government and people from various sectors provided generous financial and material assistance to the quake zone.
While moving forward, China-US relations have also encountered some difficulties and disturbances. The US side has, in disregard of the opposition of the Chinese side, insisted on arms sales to Taiwan to upgrade US-Taiwan substantive relations. It has used Tibet-related issues, human rights and religion to interfere in China's internal affairs. The tendency of politicizing trade-related issues with China is still seen from time to time and some people in the United States still believe the various versions of the "China threat" theory. All these have negatively affected and interfered with the overall growth of China-US cooperation. China has acted firmly against these wrong moves of the US side to safeguard China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and ensure stability and growth of China-US relations.
III
A review of China-US relations in the past 30 years has led us to the following conclusions:
First, bearing in mind the larger interest and taking a long-term view hold the key to maintaining the direction of constructive cooperation between China and the United States. China is the biggest developing country in the world and the United States the biggest developed country. Both countries are permanent members of the UN Security Council and both hold significant influence in the world. Though different in terms of social system, historical background and cultural tradition, the two countries should always view and handle their bilateral relations with a long-term strategic perspective while keeping in mind the overall development of the international situation. This best serves the interest of the two peoples and world peace and development.
Second, the ever expanding common interests between China and the United States constitute a solid basis for the sound development of their relations. Both China and the United States are big countries in the world and it is only natural that they may have different interests on some issues. However, the development of their relations in the past 30 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties shows that the two countries have far more common interests than differences. Under the new circumstances, the common interests between China and the United States are increasing, not decreasing. Their cooperation is expanding, not narrowing. The two countries now enjoy common interests in a growing range of areas and shoulder increasingly important common responsibilities in promoting world peace and development.
Third, respecting and accommodating each other’s core concerns serves as the primary principle guiding the stable growth of China-US relations. The Taiwan question concerns China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and is China’s core concern. It also stands at the core of the three Sino-US joint communiqués. The development of China-US relations in the past 30 years proves that when the Taiwan question is handled properly, China-US relations will enjoy sound and stable growth. Otherwise, the relations will encounter constant troubles and tension and may even retrogress.
Fourth, establishing new mechanisms of dialogue and cooperation is an important way to achieving fresh progress in China-US relations. In the early years of diplomatic relations, the two countries established a series of important mechanisms such as the Joint Economic Commission, the Joint Scientific and Technological Commission and the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, which bolstered the growth of bilateral relations. In the 1990s, the introduction of consultation mechanisms in law enforcement cooperation and in security and defense further promoted the dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. In recent years, many new important dialogue and cooperation mechanisms have been instituted. What is particularly worth mentioning is that, thanks to the care and commitment of leaders of both countries, the two sides have established and steadily enhanced the China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue and the China-US Strategic Dialogue. The two mechanisms have played an important and active role in promoting mutual understanding, trust and cooperation between the two countries.
Fifth, the friendly exchanges between the two peoples provide an inexhaustible driving force for the sustained growth of China-US relations. As a Chinese saying goes, “amity between people holds the key to sound relations between nations”. The development of China-US relations relies, in the final analysis, on the support of people from all sectors in both countries. What has happened proves that exchanges between different sectors of China and the United States are conducive to greater mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries and instill vigor and vitality into China-US relations.
IV
With 30 years of development, China-US relations have entered a new historical stage. To ensure the long-term, stable and sound growth of China-US relations is one of China’s major diplomatic objectives. It is consistent with the Scientific Outlook on Development, which we are studying and implementing. We will continue to free our mind, keep pace with the times and explore new ideas and avenues to safeguard the sound momentum of growth in China-US relations.
At present, China-US relations are at a crucial juncture. We should build on the past achievements and work for new progress. As Chinese leaders have stated on many occasions, whatever changes may occur in the international situation and the domestic political landscape in the United States, our basic policy of developing constructive and cooperative relations with the United States will remain unchanged. We are ready to work with the new US administration on the basis of the three Sino-US joint communiqués and strive for steady new progress in China-US relations.
First, the two countries should stick to the goal of building constructive and cooperative relations. To strengthen cooperation between the two countries contributes to the well-being of the two peoples and serves the fundamental interests of the people of all countries. It is the common aspiration of the two peoples and the only right choice in developing relations between the two countries. China and the United States need to expand positive factors in their relations and reduce negative ones to further advance their constructive cooperation.
Second, the two sides should maintain and strengthen high-level exchanges and increase strategic mutual trust. Continued and in-depth exchange of views on major issues between leaders of the two countries through mutual visits, meetings, letters and telephone conversations plays an irreplaceable role in promoting the development of bilateral relations. The two countries should strengthen the important mechanisms such as the Strategic Economic Dialogue and the Strategic Dialogue, create new platforms of exchanges and boost the level of mutual trust.
Third, the two sides should promote consultation and coordination in response to major international challenges. A constructive and cooperative relationship calls for close consultation and cooperation on regional and international issues. The international financial crisis has now spread from some parts of the world to the entire globe and from the financial sector to the real economy. China is ready to strengthen coordination with the United States and other parties concerned and work with the entire international community to implement the agreement reached at the G20 Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy, take effective measures to stabilize the international financial market, reduce the impact of the financial crisis on the real economy and continue to play a constructive role in stabilizing the world economy.
Fourth, the two sides should expand areas of cooperation and bring about new highlights in bilateral relations. We should be forward-looking in enhancing exchanges and cooperation in economy and trade, law enforcement, science and technology, education, culture and health care. We should be open-minded in deepening consultation and coordination in regional and international affairs and global issues such as climate change and energy security. In short, we should work together to expand cooperation, and build closer bond of common interests so as to create more opportunities for the growth of relations.
Fifth, it is important to properly handle differences and sensitive issues and remove unnecessary disturbances in bilateral relations. To improve and develop cross-Strait relations is the common aspiration of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. It also serves the common interests of the international community, including the United States. The US side should faithfully honor its commitment of adhering to the one China policy, abiding by the three Sino-US joint communiqués, and opposing “Taiwan independence” and Taiwan’s participation in international organizations where statehood is required. It should handle the Taiwan question properly and work with the Chinese side to uphold peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the overall interest of China-US relations. Similarly, the US side should respect China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on Tibet-related issues, human rights and religion, and stop the practice of interfering in other countries’ internal affairs.
Sixth, the two sides should strengthen people-to-people exchanges to solidify popular support for China-US relations. The two sides should enhance exchanges not only between the executive departments, but also between the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China and the US Congress; not only between the business communities, but also among academic circles and the media; and not only at the national level, but also at the local level. In particular, the two sides should promote contact and exchanges between young people of the two countries so that China-US friendship will be rooted in the hearts of the young people, who will become new forces committed to China-US friendship.
China cannot achieve development in isolation from the world. The world also needs China for prosperity and stability. China will continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, and remain committed to the path of peaceful development. China will unswervingly follow an opening up strategy of mutual benefit and win-win outcome, and work with people of the United States and other countries to build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.
(Published in the 2nd Issue of Qiushi Journal, 2009)