Idea of civilizational conflict criticized

A US expert said that invoking of the idea of "civilizational conflict" by some is a "trap" to be avoided.

As Beijing and Washington are engaged in intensive efforts to iron out their trade differences, a US policy-planning official renewed the "clash of civilizations" idea in formulating China policy, igniting rebuke and criticism at home and abroad.

John L. Holden, senior director at Washington-based global consultancy McLarty Associates, said in an interview with China Daily that the "clash of civilizations" worldview is problematic, as it puts explicit emphasis on what divides different peoples, suggesting that the division is intractable.

"Saying the China-US relationship is 'a clash of civilizations' is a trap that both of us should not fall for," Holden said, adding that it is wrong thinking from some minor voices in Washington who are suggesting China and the US are too different to collaborate and work together.

"While we can't ignore cultural and ideological differences between the world's two largest economies, we should also notice that we are not inhibited or imprisoned by our differences," he said.

He said the past and the present in human history have fully demonstrated that different cultures and civilizations stand to gain from communication with one another, and lose out from confrontation. Holden added that cooperation should be the first choice for US and China.

Holden, who is past president of the New York-based National Committee on US-China Relations and is also a nonresident senior fellow at the Carnegie Asia Program, gave a speech on Wednesday at a panel session at the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations in Beijing that began on the same day.

In his speech entitled "Boosting Cultural Cooperation and Convergence," Holden mentioned that cultural differences are everywhere and should be celebrated. "Promoting cultural exchanges and integration will help countries reduce diplomatic, economic and political conflicts and frictions and achieve win-win results," he said.

As the two largest economies in the world, China and the US should respect their differences, seek more dialogue and work together to solve problems of common interest, Holden said.

The outlook for Sino-US links not only matters for their development, but also bears on prospects for the world. Holden said that the two countries can cooperate in tackling problems that all of mankind is facing. "For example, climate change, communicable diseases, nuclear proliferation and cybersecurity," he said.

"Big countries like China and the US need to take leadership positions and find joint solutions for these issues, and by working together the two sides can build trust and eliminate prejudices," he said.

panmengqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Global 05/16/2019 page3)