(Agencies/chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2007-10-31 15:48

Leading US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said while India as an emerging power has a special significance for America, the ties with China will be its most important bilateral relationship.

"In Asia, India has a special significance both as an emerging power," said the former first lady outlining her position on global issues in the Foreign Affairs magazine, which is published by a leading US think tank.

Democratic presidential candidate US Senator Hillary Clinton participates in a debate at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania October 30, 2007. [Reuters]

As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, Clinton recognized the tremendous opportunity presented by India's rise and the need to give the country an augmented voice in regional and international institutions, such as the UN, Clinton said.

However, Clinton thought Washington's "relationship with China will be the most important bilateral relationship in the world in this century" despite vastly different values and political systems.

Even though the two countries disagree profoundly on issues ranging from trade to human rights, religious freedom, there is much that the United States and China can and must accomplish together, Clinton said.

"China's support was important in reaching a deal to disable North Korea's nuclear facilities," she said, suggesting that Washington should build on this framework to establish a Northeast Asian security mechanism.

But China's rise is also creating new challenges, Clinton said, noting the Chinese have finally begun to realize that their rapid economic growth is coming at an environmental price.

The US should undertake a joint program with China and Japan to develop new clean energy sources, promote greater energy efficiency, and combat climate change as part of an overall energy policy, she said.

"We must persuade China to join global institutions and support international rules by building on areas where our interests converge and working to narrow our differences. Although the United States must stand ready to challenge China when its conduct is at odds with US vital interests, we should work for a cooperative future," she said.

Rapidly emerging countries, such as China, will not curb their own carbon emissions until the US has demonstrated a serious commitment to reducing its own.

US must help developing nations build efficient and environmentally sustainable domestic energy infrastructures, Clinton said, suggesting creation of formal links between the International Energy Agency and China and India and create an "E-8" international forum modeled on the G-8.

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