“China and the U.S. are two giant ships sailing in the ocean. It is important for the two sides to
keep a steady hand on the tiller, so that the two giant ships will break waves and forge ahead
together, without losing direction or speed, still less colliding with each other,” Chinese President
Xi Jinping pointed out when meeting with his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden via video link on Nov.
16.
The first-ever virtual meeting between a Chinese President and a U.S. President was significant
for China-U.S. ties and international relations. The two sides had thorough and in-depth
communication and exchanges on issues of strategic, overarching, and fundamental importance
shaping the development of China-U.S. relations.
During the meeting, the two heads of state both voiced opposition to the so-called “new Cold
War,” saying the two countries should jointly hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation.
Against the backdrop of profound changes and a pandemic unseen in a century, the world is at a
historical crossroads, and so are China-U.S. relations. At the critical moment, the two heads of
state are steering the relations between the two countries and have charted the course for and
injected impetus in the development of China-U.S. relations in the near future, which benefits the
two peoples and meets the expectation of the international society.
To keep the relationship between the two countries in the right direction, they must review how
they have developed their ties in the past days and look into the future from higher perspectives.
When the two heads of state held phone call conversations on Feb. 11 and Sept. 10 this year, Xi
mentioned the development of China-U.S. ties “over the past half century and more” and the
history of how the “ice” was broken between the two countries in 1971.
He stressed that the most important event in international relations over the past 50 years was the
reopening and development of China-U.S. relations, which has benefited the two countries and the
whole world. The most important event in international relations in the coming 50 years will be
for China and the U.S. to find the right way to get along. History is a fair judge. What a statesman
does, be it right or wrong, an accomplishment or a failure, will all be recorded by history.
Biden echoed Xi’s comment that history is a fair judge and that they should make the relationship
work and not mess it up.
The virtual meeting demonstrated that historical responsibilities should be critical foundations for
the development of China-U.S. relations.
To keep to the right direction in the relationship between the two countries, they must show broad
vision and shoulder great responsibilities. The two countries should look ahead and press forward,
demonstrate strategic courage and political resolve.
During the meeting, Xi highlighted that a review of the experience and lessons learned in growing
China-U.S. relations shows that for the two countries to get along in the new era, three principles
must be followed: mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.
In the interactions between two countries this year, from Anchorage to Tianjin, and Zurich and
Rome, China has always insisted that mutual respect and treating each other as equals are vital
premises for the health and stable development of China-U.S. relations. The peaceful coexistence
between the two countries conforms to the common interests of the international society, including
China and the U.S. themselves. Only cooperation leads to win-win results, and cooperation is
necessary for the two countries as their interests are deeply intertwined.
The world is big enough for China and the U.S. to develop individually and collectively. The right
thing to do is to choose mutual benefit over a zero-sum game or the I-win-you-lose approach.
To bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track of healthy and stable development, the two
countries must focus on concrete actions and meet each other halfway.
Xi identified four priority areas on which China and the U.S. should focus their efforts. He said
the two countries should shoulder the responsibilities of major countries, lead global response to
outstanding challenges, and act in the spirit of equality and mutual benefit to move forward
exchanges at all levels and in all areas and generate more positive energy for China-U.S. relations.
Besides, they should also manage differences and sensitive issues in a constructive way to prevent
China-U.S. relations from getting derailed or out of control, and strengthen coordination and
cooperation on major international and regional hotspot issues to provide more public goods to the
world.
Efforts must be taken on the four priority areas so that the two countries can run their domestic
affairs well and, at the same time, shoulder their share of international responsibilities. If they can
make the right political decisions and make progress in these areas, they will bring tangible
benefits to the two peoples and the people in the rest of the world.
To bring China-U.S. relations back to the right track of healthy and stable development, the two
countries must respect each other’s core interests and major concerns.
The Taiwan question has always been the single most important and most sensitive issue at the
core of China-U.S. relations. At present, there is a new wave of tensions across the Taiwan Strait
due to the repeated attempts by the Taiwan authorities to look for U.S. support for their
independence agenda as well as the intention of some Americans to use Taiwan to contain China.
Xi remarked that there is but one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China, and the
Government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China.
Biden reaffirmed the U.S. government’s long-standing one-China policy, stated that the U.S. does
not support “Taiwan independence,” and expressed the hope for peace and stability to be
maintained in the Taiwan Strait.
It is hoped that the U.S. will practice what it has said, explicitly and firmly oppose all “Taiwan
independence” actions, and stop sending wrong signals to the separatist forces for Taiwan
independence.
The virtual meeting between the two heads of state was candid, constructive, substantive, and
productive. It helped increase mutual understanding, added to the positive expectation of the
international community for this relationship, and sent a powerful message to the two countries
and the world.
The U.S. should work with China and meet China halfway, implement the consensuses of the
meeting with concrete actions, maintain dialogues and communication with China, enhance
mutually beneficial cooperation and manage differences responsibly, so as to bring China-U.S.
relations back to the right track of healthy and stable development, and benefit the two peoples
and the people in the rest of the world.
(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy.)
