How Sino-US ties can be improved

Establishing a new model for big-power relations is not that easy for China and the United States. But that does not mean we should not do it, says an article in People's Daily. Excerpts:

There are three considerations to making such efforts: Overcoming difficulties, making innovations and accumulating positive energy.

Shrinking from difficulties and allowing all kinds of negative energy to affect the big picture of Sino-US relations is not in line with the basic interests of people in both countries.

Beijing and Washington have the consensus for building a new model for big-power relations. Both countries long ago defined their bilateral relations as based on mutual respect and beneficial cooperative partnerships.

The White House has said many times that China's rise does not mean the end of US hegemony, and that Washington welcomes a strong, prosperous and successful China playing a bigger roles in the world. The problem is that the US lacks consistency in implementing the consensus.

That the US Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 is just one example. The US involvement in the Diaoyu Islands issue and its arms sales to Taiwan are all testimony to its violent infringements of China's sovereignty and internal politics.

Both countries have important political agendas at home. The newly passed act only spells trouble for Sino-US ties, instead of bringing positive energy to the world's most important bilateral relationship.

The complexity of Sino-US relations lies in Washington's ingrained suspicion and prejudice against China, and its concerns about China's rapid development. Containing China is not a wise choice for a country highly reliant on it, like the US.

The next decade will be extremely important for both countries. They should take care of each other's strategic concerns. This not only relates to their peaceful coexistence, but also to the world's prosperity and stability.

The US should address the fundamental causes of its domestic problems but not be held hostage by partisan politics, which always plays the China card to divert people's attention from the US' real problems.

China and the US are equally confident in their development paths and futures. Both should learn to walk in the same direction. Deepening cooperation and mutual trust is the only rational choice for strategists from both sides, however complicated the situation is for them.