Sino-US ties pragmatic: Think tank

By Zhang Xin (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-12 08:07

A new "pragmatic" tone is advancing the relationship between the US and China, promising a possible win-win situation for the countries, said John Milligan-Whyte, chairman of a prominent US think tank during an interview with China Daily.

"Conventional American foreign policy and defense strategy is in crisis and if the US reiterates the same mindset and strategies, it will not be able to solve the problems America has," said Milligan-Whyte, head of the Center for America China Partnership, one of the first think tanks to combine US and Chinese perspectives.

Sino-US ties pragmatic: Think tank


He said there needs to be, and is, "a major difference" in US foreign policy, stressing that since President Barack Obama took office this year, the tone of the US-China partnership has been "pragmatic".

"The US has produced a leader of extraordinary ability, although Obama is going to do things which are extremely difficult. He will work out what needs to be done," he said.

Referring to the many high-level exchanges between the countries recently, Milligan-Whyte said they are "unseen before" and are "sending a positive signal" that the two countries are focused on common goals such as "weathering the global financial crisis and addressing climate change".

He noted Obama met his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in London in April, and US State Secretary Hillary Clinton was in China in February to promote dialogue on the financial crisis, climate change and energy. US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited to talk about green issues, and US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner last week visited to discuss economic ones.

 Special coverage:
 30 Years of China-US Relations

Related readings:
 Chinese vice premier meets US guest on economic ties
 China, US hold 10th meeting between NPC, House
 China-US co-op on climate change crucial - expert
 China, US move toward clean technology deal

"I interpret President Obama as sending a signal that he would emphasize pragmatic issues, like the financial crisis and climate change and, to a certain degree, show respect to China's rights and self-determination (on Tibet and human rights issues)," he said.

"These US high-level visits are designed to present a friendly America but the mindset behind American thinking has not yet changed," Milligan-Whyte said, adding that some senior US officials are inconsistent in speeches made in different arenas.

On May 24, Obama nominated Republican Jon Huntsman as ambassador to China, stating that he was "launching a new era of partnership".

"We are very encouraged that Jon Huntsman, with a full knowledge of China for his background, was nominated he is consistent with the Obama administration's pragmatism and will understand how to achieve a partnership with China in the new era in an unconventional approach," Milligan-Whyte said.

"He is capable of implementing Obama's new strategic partnership with China in the new era as he knows well from both ideologies, what direction US-China relations should go," added Dai Min, president of the US think-tank.

The first Global Think Tank Summit will be held in Beijing from July 2-4, where close to 100 top-notch think tanks from home and abroad will be represented, including the Brookings Institution.
Main Forum
International Financial and Economic Crisis and Global Economic Outlook
Sub-Forums
I:  Promoting Trade Liberalization and Investment Facilitation
II: Sustainable Development and Macro-economic Policies
III: Cooperation and Responsibilities of Multinationals during the Financial and Economic Crisis
IV: Global Consumption, Savings and Financial Security
V:  Idea Exchange with Global Think Tanks on Key Economic Issues
Agenda
Afternoon of July 2 - Opening Ceremony
July 3 - Main Forum
July 4 - Parallel Sub-Forums
 
Photo Gallery