Wednesday's over-the-phone talks between Chinese President Hu
Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush were expected to set
the tone for the upcoming China-US strategic economic dialogue.
They agreed that bilateral relations have been gaining momentum,
and the two countries should continue dialogue and cooperation.
The second round of strategic economic dialogue scheduled to
take place in Washington late this month will add to the vitality
of the trade between the two countries.
This is an important dimension of the dialogue. As Bush said, it
is of great significance, because it reveals their willingness to
handle their trade problems through high-level talks.
The relationship between China and the United States is both
complicated and important. Their interactions have never been free
of frictions, including concerns about trade balance, US access to
Chinese markets, energy issues and environmental protection.
However, the two countries have learnt to deal with them
constructively and avoid confrontation. The strategic economic
dialogue is a brand-new approach to further examine and establish a
trade relationship based on greater sensibility, pragmatism and
sincerity.
These high-level talks on economic and trade concerns are
possible, because the political and economic elites have become
more moderate and open-minded when evaluating China's current and
future development.
Bilateral relations have undergone prominent shifts over the
past three decades. The United States was China's most important
trade and investment partner after China opened up to the outside
world. China was one of the United States' trade partners, with its
investment of little consequence in the land of stars and
stripes.
During the past five years since China joined the World Trade
Organization, Sino-US trade relations have been characterized by
fundamental changes that have forced American politicians and
businesspeople to think seriously.
The United States' willingness to modify its relations with
China demonstrates that US political and economic elites are facing
a more confident, rapidly growing China.
However, this does not provide much optimism that all of the
policies and views about containing China are gone in the United
States. But the United States should understand that better
cooperation with China has, and would continue to, benefit both
countries.
The consensus that Hu and Bush have reached on building a
constructive, cooperative trade partnership will set the ball
rolling smoothly.
(China Daily May 11, 2007)
