Opinion: China, US need higher-level meetings By Niu Xinchun (China Daily) Updated: 2005-08-11 06:11
Take the two plus two (2+2) talks held early this year between Washington and
Tokyo. The two countries' defence and foreign ministers participated.
Compared to the 2+2 talks, the strategic dialogue between the China and the
United States is obviously at a lower level.
Though dialogue level is not the only criterion with which its importance is
gauged, it is necessary for the two countries to improve their dialogue level if
they are to achieve a breakthrough in strategic affairs.
Given the fragility of Sino-US political relations, regular dialogue
mechanisms between the two countries are in danger of being broken off if any
major conflict or controversy occurs.
According to an accord reached by China and the United States, the human
rights consultation mechanism should hold two meetings every year. However, only
13 meetings had been held in the 12 years following its establishment.
The joint commercial and tradecommittee should have held 23 meetings by this
year. However, the 16th meeting was convened in Beijing not long ago.
According to an agreement, China's NPC and the US Senate should hold two
meetings every year, but so far only seven rounds have been convened.
Beijing and Washington set up an annual defence affairs consultation
mechanism at vice-ministerial level in 1997. But the bombing of the Chinese
Embassy in the former Yugoslavia by US-led NATO put the brakes on the exchange,
which only resumed in December 2002.
China and the United States share common views about the direction in which
the strategic dialogue should be steered.
Comments made by China's foreign ministry spokesman and by Zoellick in Hong
Kong demonstrate that the Sino-US strategic dialogue will surpass concrete
affairs and aim to deepen mutual understanding, enhance trust and expand
co-operation.
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