Analysts laud China-US commitment to relations

BEIJING - Chinese analysts on Sunday hailed the latest China-US commitment to build a new type of relationship between big powers that features engagement and cooperation over conflict and confrontation.

At a seminar on China-US relations on Sunday, head of the Institute of International Studies Qu Xing said, "The debut summit between the two presidents set the tone for China-US relations over the next four to ten years."

The summit refers to the two days of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama in California, during which both presidents increased mutual trust, reached consensus on an array of issues and mapped out a blueprint for China-US ties.

The summit, including two talks, one walk and one dinner, is the first face-to-face meeting between the presidents of China and the United States since the two countries completed their latest leadership transitions.

During the summit, Xi summarized the concept of a new type of relations between the two nations in three phrases -- "no conflict and no confrontation," "mutual respect" and "cooperation toward win-win results."

In an effort to promote mutual understanding and trust, Xi and Obama agreed to boost dialogue and communication at all levels.

Xi invited Obama to visit China. The Chinese defense and foreign ministers will visit the United States in the future. The China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue is scheduled to be held in July in Washington.

"The summit, which is historic and strategic, reached its goal and charted the path for bilateral relations," said Jin Canrong, deputy head of International Studies College of China's Renmin University. "Specifically speaking, both sides agreed to avoid conflicts, step up engagement and deepen cooperation."

In contrast to the old type of relations which feature conflicts between established countries and rising powers, the new model of relations between big powers can avoid major confrontations and be based on common interests, said Wang Jisi, head of International Studies College of Peking University.

"Only by seeking more and more converging interests can China and the United States transcend conflict and confrontation," said Zhou Wenzhong, former Chinese Ambassador to the United States. "Identifying common interest and building strategic trust is the key to fostering a new type of relations."

The two countries started to reengage with each other thanks to then US President Richard Nixon's ice-breaking visit to China in 1972. The driving force behind China-US relations has significantly changed, deputy head of the Institute of International Studies Ruan Zongze said. "It was initially driven by outside pressure, in other words, the international strategic structure, like the threat of the Soviet Union."

Then, the joint task of fighting terrorism bound the two countries closer, Ruan said. "But now China-USrelations are increasingly driven by domestic demands of the two countries, like economic cooperation."

Analysts also agreed it would be a long, arduous and complicated task for the two countries to build the new type of relations.

"It is common for the two countries to differ on an array of issues, like trade, cyber security and others," Jin said.

Ruan took cyber security as an example, saying both China and the United States are trying to turn common challenges of cyber security into an area of cooperation.

At this summit, Xi told Obama that cyber security should be a new highlight of bilateral cooperation instead of a source of suspicion and friction. They agreed to strengthen dialogue, coordination and cooperation through the already-established cyber working group.

Analysts said the Xi-Obama summit was not aimed at solving specific problems between the two countries.

"Their summit did show the world a clear signal from both countries to build trust and manage disputes, thus taking a step further toward redefining the world's most important bilateral relationship," Jin said.