Relationship of necessity brings new opportunities
- Source: Global Times
- [21:24 March 11 2010]
- Comments
Editor's Note:
A series of recent clashes have left the China-US relationship badly shaken. US President Barack Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, US arms sales to Taiwan, and the Google controversy have all caused upset in China. US and Chinese officials have been trying to rebuild the relationship. What room for maneuver is there? How can the troubles in the relationship be smoothed over diplomatically? Global Times (GT) reporter Wang Wen talked to US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg (Steinberg), who visited China from March 3 to 5, on the future of China-US relations.
James Steinberg
GT: Was your recent visit to China intended to build bridges after recent China-US tensions?
Steinberg: Together with National Security Council senior director Jeff Bader, I visited China to discuss how our two countries could continue to cooperate in building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship.
Following the example set by our two presidents, who met three times last year, our two sides consistently talk regularly at senior levels to advance the US-China relationship in order to steadily build a partnership to address common challenges.
GT: Which Chinese officials did you meet with? What did you talk about? What did both sides agree on?
Steinberg: I met with State Councilor Dai Bingguo, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, and other senior Chinese officials. The US and China agreed on the high importance each attaches to their relationship and their commitment to building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship.
We engaged in an in-depth exchange of views on issues of mutual concern, and we look forward to working together constructively to address these issues.
In particular, I raised concerns over Iran's and North Korea's nuclear programs, economic, trade, and market access issues, and climate change. I responded to concerns by Chinese officials over Taiwan by reiterating that the Obama administration has followed a consistent approach, pursued by administrations of both political parties, of a "one China" policy.
On Tibet, I reiterated the US position that Tibet is a part of China, while also pointing out our concerns regarding conditions in Tibet and stressing that we believe dialogue is the best way to address long-standing grievances there. I confirmed that the US remains willing to try to work together with China to bridge differences and deepen cooperation on common interests.
GT: You mentioned the new term "strategic reassurance" last fall, and US President Barack Obama also stressed earlier the "China-US relationship in the 21st century is the most important bilateral relationship." What efforts will the Obama administration make for the healthy development of China-US relations? How would you characterize China in terms of its relations with the US? A partner, opponent, a stakeholder, or something else?
Steinberg: As Obama said last year, "The relationship between the US and China will shape the 21st century, which makes it as important as any bilateral relationship in the world."
Building a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship with China is one of our highest foreign policy priorities.
We have pursued the healthy development of relations by launching the Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED), an unprecedented annual gathering of senior officials between our two countries. We are now working closely with the Chinese government to prepare the next S&ED, which will take place this summer.
Our two countries have also reached important agreements on a wide range of issues, on everything from cooperation on clean energy to increasing the number of Americans studying in China. We worked together last year to confront the global financial crisis, avoiding a global depression through our coordinated responses.
Through forging an accord at Copenhagen, we maintained momentum toward avoiding the catastrophic consequences of global climate change.
We believe in a future where China is a strong, prosperous and successful member of the community of nations; a future when our nations are partners out of necessity, but also out of opportunity. We are committed to advancing that kind of relationship with China.
GT: Do you think the China-US relationship is in the most difficult period in recent years?
Steinberg: As with all relationships, even among the closest of friends, the US and China do not see eye-to-eye on every issue. But our relationship is mature enough so that our two countries can discuss frankly our differences of opinion while continuing to cooperate on shared interests.
Over the past 30 years of healthy growth in our bilateral relations, we have occasionally had such periods. That is natural.
We have worked together to address concerns and move beyond difficulties in the past, and we are committed to work hard toward that objective now and into the future.
The US remains committed to building the type of strong, mature partnership with China that can endure difficult periods.
