By Zheng Bijian
China and the United States have different historical conditions
and social systems, and thus have different values rooted in
different civilizations. These two different civilizations can and
must seek common ground and communication, and the two countries
should not make the differences become the basis for the Cold War
mentality. Peoples of the two sides have shown mutual respect and
mutual learning spirit in the exchanges, which has proven this
point. The practical-minded spirit and the respect for innovation
are important conditions for mutual communication.
China's peaceful development has attracted great attention and
has won certain recognition of the US strategic community and
decision-makers. Many facts have demonstrated that Sino-US relation
is becoming more and more mature.
US President Bush once stressed that he was looking forward to a
candid, constructive, and cooperative US-China relationship, which
is called "3C" relationship. I express my appreciation. However,
some recent US policies toward China remind me of another "3C":
complex, contradictory, and confusion. For example, on the one
hand, the United States recognized China's commitment and
experience on the peaceful development, but on the other hand, it
still has fundamental skepticism on whether China would be able to
stick to this path.
To this end, I would like to bring up another "4C", in which I
anticipate that China and the United States can work together in
the light of the spirit of communication, complementary,
coordination, and cooperation and shape the future bilateral
relations in terms of five aspects.
The first is regarding the strategic issues. Both countries
should strengthen exchanges and communications so as to enhance
mutual trust, dispel doubts, and, reduce misjudgment. Mr. Dai
Bingguo and Mr. Robert. B. Zoellick initiated the Sino-US strategic
dialogue which is a very good platform for mutual exchange. The
more such communication opportunities, the better. As the world's
only superpower and a emerging country that plays an increasingly
important role on the international arena, the United States and
China should constantly communicate with each other on strategic
issues.
Second, concerning the economic, trade and energy issues, both
countries should further tap the complementary advantages and learn
from each other instead of malicious counteracting each other. If
the two sides do want to overcome the economic and trade frictions,
both sides must firstly adhere to the non-politicization principle
of economic issues, respect the conditions and stages of
development of each other, and, work together with each other
rather than making unilateral efforts. Energy cooperation is vital
to the sustainable development of the two countries in the 21st
century. The advanced energy technology of the United States is
complementary to China's huge energy demand. The development of the
US national energy policy can be a good experience for China to
learn from to developing more scientific and rational energy
strategies.
Third, concerning the regional issues, China and the United
States should strengthen coordination, avoid conflict, and, target
on a win-win goal. Some American people believe that China is
planning a so-called "Asian version of Monroe Doctrine," in which
China meditates edging the United States out of the "Asia-Pacific"
region. If such suspicions are allowed to spread, the only result
could be a "security dilemma" for the United States in which it
would be unable to pull itself out thus end up with nothing. The
best way to resolve such suspicions is to conduct coordination
through prior notice, afterwards summary, and frequent
communication. If China and the Untied States can achieve a
long-term peaceful coexistence in the Asia-Pacific region, it could
be a blessing for the whole region.
Fourth, both countries should further the cooperation in
non-traditional security field so as to expand the strategic
foundation of the Sino-US relations. Sino-US cooperation in this
field is the most successful cooperation, reporting the least
obstacles. Non-traditional security cooperation not only helps
alleviate the mistrust between the two countries in the traditional
security field, but also provides the two with useful experience in
other fields and promotes the establishment of a broader
platform.
Fifth, in a deeper sense, China and the United States should
broaden their visions and seek common ground while reserving
differences in order to promote the communication between the two
different civilizations.
In short, basing on the political cooperation, security
cooperation, and economic and trade cooperation in the past, China
and the United States should be able to get beyond the Cold War
mentality, expand strategic cooperation, energy cooperation,
regional cooperation, non-traditional security cooperation and
communication between the two civilizations, and, create a broader
and brighter space for the future development of the Sino-US
relations.
The author Zheng Bijian is director-general of the Forum on
China's Reform and Opening-up.
(People's Daily Online May 12, 2006)
