[GUANGMING RIBAO]DIAO Daming: Promote the Development of Sino-US Relations Based on Coordination, Cooperation and Stability

On June 18, 2019, President Xi Jinping made a phone call with US President Trump. The two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern such as current bilateral relations and expressed their willingness to meet during the G20 summit in Osaka. President Xi Jinping clearly pointed out that the two sides should, in accordance with the consensus reached by us, promote Sino-US relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. In fact, since the meeting between the two heads of state in Buenos Aires on December 1, 2018, China has always emphasized that coordination, cooperation and stability should be the biggest common denominator of the Chinese and American circles, and it is also an key direction to solve the current differences between China and the United States and promote the sound development of Sino-US relations in the long term.

Coordination is the current attitude of China and the United States in building relations between the two countries. It must be acknowledged that there are huge differences between China and the United States in many key dimensions such as history and culture, basic national conditions, social systems, development stages, and international market division of labor. In the long-term history of the interaction between the two countries, these differences have become an important starting point for win-win cooperation between the two countries in most of the time, but at some point and on certain issues, the two sides will inevitably face some differences, even frictions. Especially today, the world order transformation and economic globalization have entered a new stage. China and the United States have also entered the key historical nodes of their respective countries' development. The national interests and strategic positioning of the two countries are also in the process of adjusting and changing with the country's development and international environment, then differences and contradictions will explode, and even competition will be fiercer. But in any case, in the face of these problems, China and the United States should adopt a positive and coordinated attitude to deal with them, rather than the unilateral bullying method that has been proved unpopular. The coordination here is of course not the so-called “great country club” type of “interest division”, but it should be embodied in the basic principles of mutual respect, opposite direction, equality and trustworthiness, mutual benefit and reciprocity, and make dialogue and consultation aimed at maintaining world prosperity and stability and meet the interests of both countries and the well-being of all human beings..

Cooperation is the only correct choice between China and the United States to build bilateral relations. Undoubtedly, the history of the interaction between China and the United States, especially the experience since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States in the past 40 years, all the facts clearly point to a gold standard that has been repeatedly verified, that is, the cooperation make China and US benefit and conflict make us harm. For a long time, China and the United States have played important roles in the international arena and in the global industrial division of labor. In many fields, there are important ties between mutual needs, complementary advantages, interests, and cooperation and mutual benefit. On the one hand, the huge scale and high growth rate of China's economy are leading the world's economic growth. If the United States really wants to achieve the goal of "Great Again," it will be impossible to refuse cooperation with China. Because rejecting China is equivalent to rejecting the whole world. On the other hand, in order to achieve the positive goals of sustainable development and prosperity of their respective countries, both China and the United States must make necessary and appropriate contributions to the global order and the stability of the international environment. The process of providing public goods should also be a benign process in which China and the United States strengthen cooperation and lead the world to participate. This is also the only key meaning of cooperation is the only correct choice between the two countries, only a win-win situation can lead to a better future. On today's economic and trade issues, China still insists on finally resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, thus promoting cooperation that meets the interests of the two countries and conforms to the expectations of all countries in the world of mutual benefit and win-win.

Stability is the current state of maintaining Sino-US relations in building bilateral relations. It must be noted that the stability of Sino-US relations is not only in the interests of the two countries and the people, but also vital to the stability and prosperity of the world. Under the close cooperation, the stability of the relationship between the two countries is undoubtedly a key factor influencing each other's respective economic development, policy choices and strategic layout. At the same time, as the relationship between the largest developing country and the largest developing country, the stability of Sino-US relations will inevitably provide an example and the most crucial good atmosphere for in-depth cooperation between countries at different stages of development on a global scale. Equally important, the United States and China, the world's top two in terms of economic aggregates, account for 40% of the world's economy. This determines that the stability of relations between the two countries directly determines the stability of the current global economic situation and the direction of development prospects, which is the most important indicator for maintaining the theme of peace and development throughout the world. In other words, actively maintaining the stability of Sino-US relations is the international responsibility of today's two countries. In this sense, China has always emphasized the irreplaceable strategic significance of Sino-US relations to the two countries and the world, and hopes to shoulder the necessary international responsibilities.

As the keynote of coordination, cooperation and stability, there is a high degree of strategic wisdom. The effective coordination will resolve any possible differences and frictions continuously, and consolidate and expand the cooperation between China and the United States. More cooperation in Sino-US relations will inevitably continue to reduce differences and even the proportion of competition and the intensity of friction. The cooperation can ensure and strengthen the long-term stability of the relations between the two countries and the global order and development prospects. This kind of cherished stability has created a higher starting point and a better atmosphere for further coordination and cooperation between China and the United States.

In 2019, China and the United States established diplomatic relations for forty years. The meaning of the so-called "Be Without Doubt When One Reaches 40" is not that there is no difficulty, but that there is already a wealth of experience and accurate judgments that are not enough to be "confusing" in the face of any difficulties, so that the correct solution and the right way to get along can always be adhered to. The Chinese side emphasizes the promotion of Sino-US relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability, which is the plan and path of “no confusing”. In essence, coordination, cooperation, and stability are another concrete practice of the "human destiny community" concept proposed by China. It is an innovative application of the principle of "extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits" in Sino-US relations. In the face of the current new situation and new challenges of the international community, China and the United States must embrace the only correct strategic choice for a virtuous circle. From this point of view, the whole world is expecting the United States to be able to move in line with China and make the right choices that truly meet the interests of both countries and meet the expectations of the international community.

DIAO Daming, Research Fellow of National Academy of Development and Strategy, Renmin University of China.