Dialogue has become an essential medium for countries seeking
common ground while trying to bridge differences.
That is what should be expected of the fourth round of the
Sino-US Strategic Dialogue, which starts today in Washington, led
by Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and his US counterpart, Deputy
Secretary of State John Negroponte.
The agenda for this round of dialogue was already set by
President Hu Jintao and President George W. Bush during their
meeting earlier this month during the G8 summit in Germany's Baltic
resort of Heiligendamm. It took place two weeks after the second
round of Sino-US Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED), held in
Washington in late May.
The frequency with which the two countries' top officials meet
and exchange ideas indicates that both recognize the importance of
increasing mutual trust and expanding consensus while finding
better ways to address key subjects of bilateral as well as global
concern.
Take the Taiwan question. The peace and stability across the
Taiwan Straits is of common strategic interest to the US, China and
other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, following the SED meeting, both countries should
redouble efforts to keep the strategic economic dialogue moving
forward despite Congressional politicization of trade issues.
Both countries also have crucial roles to play in global issues.
Cooperation and negotiation, instead of finger-pointing and
unilateral action, are the best solutions for resolving nuclear
issues - as exemplified by the six-party talks - and conflicts such
as the one in Sudan's Darfur region.
When the world is confronting energy shortages, environmental
degradation and climate change, the areas for cooperation between
the largest developed country and the largest developing country
have broadened. They share opportunities for mitigating the
negative effects of global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
while seeking energy efficiency to protect the earth.
All these concerns are of strategic importance to both countries
and to the world. So the outcome of the dialogue, especially the
understandings the two sides reach to achieve common goals, will
benefit both countries and the world.
(China Daily June 20, 2007)
