China-US ties expected to grow

China and the United States should continue their strong momentum in mutual exchanges across a wide spectrum and keep gaining from peaceful coexistence and cooperation, steering clear of conflicts and confrontation, a top Chinese diplomat stationed in San Francisco said on Wednesday.

At a luncheon hosted by the World Affairs Council of Northern California, Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Luo Linquan spoke to a group of 40 council members and guests about China-US relations and the upcoming state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September.

The bilateral relationship between the world's two largest economies has achieved remarkable development since the 1972 "Ping Pong diplomacy" broke the ice of a long-time estrangement and the two decided to formalize their diplomatic ties.

"Despite its twists and turns," said Luo, "the US-China relationship has become one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world."

Currently, there are more than 100 dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between China and the US with the most well-known ones being the Strategic and Economic Dialogues (S&ED), the High-Level Consultation on People-to-People Exchanges (CPE) and the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

On June 23, Chinese Vice-premier Liu Yandong, as a special envoy of President Xi Jinping, joined US Secretary of State John Kerry in Washington to chair the 6th round of the China-US CPE and 7th round of S&ED. The meetings have injected great positive energy to the overall development of the bilateral relations, said Luo.

"We have conducted extensive exchanges and cooperation in nearly all areas including political, economic, educational, cultural, people-to-people and international affairs," said Luo, adding the economic and trade relations between the countries are critical pillars which have laid a solid foundation for further US-China relationship development.

Annual two-way trade volume exceeded $590 billion in 2014, an increase of 240 times compared to that in 1979. As the third-largest export market and the largest source of import for the US, China houses more than 60,000 American enterprises which include high-tech giants such as Apple and Intel to consumer product producers such as McDonald's and Starbucks Coffee.

"Many Chinese households use Microsoft software, make calls on iPhones, drive General Motors automobiles and watch Hollywood blockbusters," said Luo.

In addition, Chinese and American people tend to understand more of each other through other exchanges. About 4.3 million travels have been made in 2014, meaning literally "each and every day, more than 15,000 people are flying over the Pacific Ocean," said Luo.

China and the US maintain a close and effective communication and coordination on major regional and international issues which include the Korean peninsula, Iran's nuclear program, Afghanistan, counterterrorism, energy security, public health and climate change.

Citing the successful signing of the comprehensive agreement on July 14 on Iran's nuclear program which involved Iran and the P5+1 group (the US, UK, China, France, Russia and Germany), as a good example of China's commitment to world peace and regional stability, Luo said China will continue constructive cooperation with all parties, including the US, to ensure the implementation of the Iran nuclear deal.

"China and the United States have maintained close communication and coordination throughout the negotiation process, which is yet another sign showing the two countries' commitment to building a new model of major country relations," said President Xi during a telephone conversation with US President Obama in July.

Jeffrey Bleich, moderator of the luncheon talk and a veteran US diplomat, said China and the US should work together to resolve differences and solve problems.

junechang@chinadailyusa.com