A manifestation of what China really wants

Some Chinese policymakers who attended the 7th China-US Strategic & Economic Dialogue in Washington this week might have delivered a key message to their US counterparts by showing them photographs of blue skies in Beijing that they had saved in their smartphones.

Beijing experienced a phenomenon early this month as it welcomed crystal clear skies for many days. The phenomenon turned many Beijing residents into avid photographers who captured and shared their amazing photographs with people on their list of contacts.

And it is highly likely that some of the Chinese negotiators who traveled to Washington too did so.