Finding Right Way to Get Along in New Era
With profound changes unseen in a century, the world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. China and the U.S., whose relationship is one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, should uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and jointly shoulder responsibilities for world peace and development.
China and the U.S. account for more than one-third of the world economy, nearly a quarter of the world population, and about one-fifth of world trade. Whether the two can handle their relationship well is crucial to the future of mankind.
It is important to start with mutual respect. China and the U.S. are different in history, culture, ideologies, social systems and current national conditions. It is impossible for them to agree on all issues, and it is normal to have differences.
History shows that China and the U.S. gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. A stable, sound and sustainable China-U.S. relationship serves the two countries' shared interests and meets the aspiration of the international community.
Robert Hormats, vice chairman of Kissinger Associates, who previously served as under secretary of state, called on the U.S. and China to strengthen exchanges in education, tourism and culture, and gradually rebuild mutual trust.
Peaceful coexistence is a baseline of bilateral relationships. Peace is the eternal aspiration of mankind and the core value of the coexistence of major countries. Conflict and confrontation are not in the interests of anyone.
Both China and the U.S. are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Turning their back on each other is not an option, and trying to remodel the other is unrealistic, said Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., at the 15th U.S.-China CEO and Former Senior Officials' Dialogue on December 17, 2024. Any conflict or confrontation would have unbearable consequences for both sides, he added.
The U.S. and China should avoid falling into the Thucydides Trap and find the right way to get along with each other. That is important for both countries and the world at large, Graham Allison, a professor at Harvard University, said during his visit to Beijing on December 19, 2024.
The two nations should strive for win-win cooperation as a goal. After decades of development, their interests are already deeply intertwined. "Economically, our total trade has exceeded 660 billion USD. Over 70,000 American companies are doing business in China, earning a profit of 50 billion USD annually," Xie said.
Laurence Freeman, an American economic-political analyst, said: "In fact, there is no objective inherent contradiction between the development of China and the development of the U.S. China and the U.S. actually share a common interest in the development of humankind."
Freeman also said the U.S. needs to abandon its Cold-War mentality and zero-sum game mindset. China is not the enemy of the U.S., he said. Cooperation between the U.S. and China can benefit both countries and the world.
Stable China-U.S. relations are the cornerstone of world peace and stability, according to Straton Habyarimana, a Rwandan economic analyst. Whether it is addressing climate change, food crisis or global public health issues, China-U.S. cooperation will play an irreplaceable role, Habyarimana said.
China's policy toward the U.S. has remained consistent and stable. It is hoped that the U.S. will work with China to properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and work together to cope with various global challenges.