Forge ahead into the future

Mutual respect offers the right approach to managing our differences. Given differences in political system, level of development, history and cultural tradition, it is only natural for the two countries to have disagreements and differences. By respecting each other's core interests and major concerns, building trust through dialogue and consultation, and seeking common ground while narrowing differences, we can keep the bilateral relations from being adversely affected by differences.

The friendship between our peoples underpins the growth of China-US relations. Extensive involvement by and strong support of our peoples are vital to the growth of bilateral relations. The two sides need to deepen people-to-people friendship by expanding the channels of communication and encouraging two-way exchanges among the people from all walks of life. This will inject everlasting vitality into China-US relations.

Time goes by fast, and China-US relations have today reached a new historical starting point. During their meeting at the Annenberg Retreat last June, President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama reached important agreement on building a new model of major-country relations, thus charting the course for growing the bilateral relationship. President Xi Jinping incisively characterizes this new model of major-country relations as being one not of conflict and confrontation, but of mutual respect and win-win cooperation. China and the United States should translate this important agreement between the two presidents into specific policies and measures and implement it in all areas of China-US relations.

We should enhance strategic mutual trust. We need to maintain the momentum of close exchanges at the top and other levels, deepen mutual understanding and avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment. China is committed to peaceful development and remains a positive force for promoting global peace and development. The United States needs to have a correct understanding of China's strategic intention and honor with real actions the position stated by its leaders on many occasions, namely, welcoming a successful, strong, stable and prosperous China. Only by assuring each other about their respective intentions and removing misgivings and suspicions can China and the United States make steady and solid progress in their relations.

We should expand pragmatic cooperation in various areas. The two sides need to seize the opportunities of reforms in both countries to turn the deepening of such reforms into a process of strengthening pragmatic cooperation. We should create new highlights of cooperation, expand areas of cooperation and open new prospects for our cooperation. Going forward, we need to work for early breakthroughs in the negotiations on a bilateral investment treaty to boost China-US business ties. We need to overcome obstacles and barriers standing in the way of our cooperation and seek early settlement to issues such as US high-tech export restrictions on China and obstacles faced by Chinese companies in making investment in the United States. It is necessary to increase dialogue and cooperation in trade, investment, energy, the environment and infrastructure and launch a number of major, influential cooperation projects that benefit our peoples. We need to advance a new type of China-US military-to-military relations and expand cooperation in both traditional and non-traditional security fields, including peacekeeping, counter-piracy, humanitarian relief and disaster prevention and reduction. It is important to continue our counter-terrorism cooperation on a reciprocal and mutually beneficial basis and jointly oppose violence and terrorism in all forms. We also need to strengthen dialogue, exchange and cooperation in a wide range of areas from non-proliferation to law enforcement, from science and technology to education, and from culture to health and sports.

We should continue to increase communication and coordination on international and regional issues. We need to strengthen macro economic policy coordination through multilateral mechanisms such as the G20, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and work together to promote global economic recovery and growth. We need enhanced communication and coordination on the Korean nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue, Syria, North and South Sudan, Afghanistan and other regional hotspot issues to seek their proper settlement. It is also necessary to expand cooperation in tackling global issues, including climate change, energy security, food security, cyber security and epidemics and provide more public goods to the international community.

We should handle with caution sensitive issues in our bilateral relations. On Taiwan, Tibet and other major issues involving China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, the United States should abide by the related governing principles, honor its commitments and act with prudence to prevent China-US relations from suffering any more setbacks.

We should further boost exchanges in various fields. We need to continue to increase dialogue and exchanges between our legislatures and local governments, promote interactions between the business communities and the academia, and increase mutual visits of young people and students. More frequent and deep-going exchanges in all sectors will enhance mutual understanding and friendship and ensure that the forces and voices in support of China-US cooperation will prevail in public opinion of the two countries.

We should keep abreast of the times and make the giant ship of China-US relations sail forward by braving waves. The history of China-US relations is a history of keeping pace with the times, making adjustment and innovation and breaking new ground. In the early days, it was the political judgment made by our leaders in light of the evolving international developments that brought our two countries together despite differences in political views and systems. Today, our two sides need to be innovative in thinking and take vigorous action to build a new model of major-country relations and ensure that China-US relations will always be at the forefront of the times.

Looking back, we have made remarkable progress in China-US relations. Looking ahead, we are fully confident in the future of our relations. With China and the United States moving forward together in the direction set by our presidents and taking concrete actions, the great vision of building a new model of major-country relations between China and the United States can surely be realized.

The author is foreign minister of China. He wrote the article in commemoration of the 35th Anniversary of the Establishment of China-US Diplomatic Relations.

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