US, Chinese officials vow to continue working toward better relations

Now that President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama have set the tone for restructuring Sino-US relations, senior government officials who participated in the summit have promised follow-up.

Chinese Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai said the most significant outcome of the summit - held at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, California - is that the two countries have decided to work together to build their new relationship.

"Both sides have recognized that we cannot afford to repeat the old pattern of rivalry and confrontation. We need a new path that features mutual respect and win-win cooperation," he said at the Asia Society Washington awards dinner on Wednesday.

"So the goal is set and the direction is laid out. The next step is to translate this commitment into real policies and actions," said Cui, who received an Asia Society diplomatic achievement award on behalf of his predecessor, Zhang Yesui.

Acknowledging challenges in areas such as territorial disputes and cybersecurity, the ambassador said both countries have to ensure that these issues do not hinder their relationship.

"To build a new relationship model is a long-term mission, and there is a long way to go. However, coming out of this meeting at Sunnylands, we are confident," he said.

Tom Donilon, outgoing US national security advisor, echoed Cui's sentiments, pledging a US commitment to building a stable and constructive relationship with China.

"Few diplomatic, economic or security challenges in the world can be addressed without both China and the US," he said.

Speaking at the Brookings Institution in Washington on Wednesday afternoon, Fu Ying, China's former vice-foreign minister and now chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of China's legislature, the 12th National People's Congress, also praised the summit.

"Though they have not solved all the world's problems for us, we hope it will lead to many years of working together," she said.

Fu said the two countries still have a different outlook on issues, and it's important for both sides to try to understand each other and work together.

In defining the new type of relationship, China proposed mutual respect, treating others as equals, and trying to form a win-win relationship.

Fu said Chinese people believe in equality among countries, large and small.

"So when we talk about establishing a new type of relationship, I think it's very important that we try to understand each other and try to understand why the other side thinks and behaves the way it does," she said.

Pointing out China's growth potential, including the urbanization of 600 million people in the coming decades, she said the US should become a partner and benefit from the many opportunities from China's progress.

"China cannot achieve its purpose without a peaceful international environment, and without working closely with the outside world, especially countries like the United States," she said.

However, she said China has a long way to go before it catches up to the US. "It's very important for China to stay focused and not lose sight of its direction. The new leader in China has shown lots of confidence and the wisdom to do so," she said.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily 06/14/2013 page11)