People-to-people exchanges enduring bridge: China Daily editorial

Ronald Sakolsky, a retired teacher from Pennsylvania, the United States, recently returned to China after more than 20 years, completing a personal journey that began with a simple act of kindness. In an era of strategic rivalry and political turbulence, his story serves as a poignant reminder of what truly sustains international relations.

In 1999, while teaching English in Luoyang, Henan province, Sakolsky was inspired by a television report on Yin Yuzhen, a Chinese woman fighting desertification in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. Moved by her perseverance, Sakolsky raised $5,000 to support her tree-planting efforts on the barren land.

This week, he walked through the very land he helped rejuvenate, now a thriving forest and ecological garden. "Nothing but a miracle," he said, standing beside Yin. Their journey, from a small donation to a flourishing forest, encapsulates a powerful truth: individual human connections can transcend geopolitical divides and create lasting, tangible change.

This narrative is especially important today, as some politicians in the US continue to view China as a strategic rival, leading to restrictive policies that hinder bilateral cooperation and escalate tensions.

In such an environment, official channels often stall or get mired in suspicion and zero-sum thinking. However, international relations are not solely the domain of politics; they are also built on a foundation of mutual understanding between people from different walks of life.

When political rhetoric becomes adversarial, people-to-people exchanges act as crucial stabilizers, dismantling stereotypes, building trust and highlighting our shared humanity. As Sakolsky put it, "All Americans need to realize that Chinese and Americans can be family. We can get over the differences if we focus on the similarities."

This sentiment is not naive, but points to a historical truth. Ultimately, it is the people who uphold the bridge of understanding when political winds turn harsh. In times of diplomatic strain, grassroots connections play a critical role in keeping communication lines open and fostering dialogue and mutual understanding.

These interpersonal and cultural exchanges are the stabilizing forces for China-US relations, reminding both nations of their shared interests and the human connections that transcend political disagreements. Through sustained engagement at the individual and community levels, the potential for collaboration and peaceful coexistence is kept alive, even amid geopolitical tensions.

The promising areas for this cooperation should include green development and climate change — afforestation is part of these endeavors. As the world's two largest economies, China and the US share a common interest in combating climate change, advancing green technology and restoring ecological balance.

Yin's story is a metaphor for the engagement in these fields. With help from Good Samaritans such as Sakolsky, her painstaking efforts, which have turned over 4,600 hectares of desert into an oasis, are a victory for all of humanity.

Sakolsky's role sets an example of how cooperation can flourish despite political uncertainties. By focusing on shared environmental goals, both China and the US can contribute to a global public good while building a reservoir of trust and mutual respect that can positively influence other aspects of their relationship.

People-to-people exchanges and dialogues play a vital role in fostering mutual trust and cooperation. Demonstrating the broad scope of such links, the third China-US Track 1.5 Dialogue was held in Beijing on Tuesday, bringing together representatives from Chinese government departments and think tanks, as well as US representatives from several organizations. Centered on expanding economic and sci-tech cooperation, this face-to-face engagement exemplifies the kind of direct communication that is urgently needed between the two countries now.

It is through such sustained exchanges and cooperation that humanity's remarkable cultural tapestry endures and thrives.