'Positive signs' in China-US relations

Stacy Shi

China-US relations are showing positive signs of stability after a series of high-level interactions, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said yesterday.

Making the remarks in a pre-recorded video at the opening of the Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations at The St Regis Hong Kong hotel in Wan Chai, Xie said the immediate priority is for both sides to pave the way for President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden to meet during the APEC summit starting in San Francisco tomorrow.

Xie commended that the forum's theme "Change and Progress" is highly related to the international situation including the Sino-US relations and reflects the vision and a courage to "foster new opportunities amid crisis."

"While our two countries do have differences, our common interests are not to be dismissed," he said. "We should and must expand the list of cooperation through dialogue and manage differences and disagreements."

Also speaking via video, US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns said that although there are competition and differences between the two countries, Washington and Beijing are more capable of managing the differences.

Burns said progress is being made in bilateral relations.

Xie called for a "return to the Bali Consensus" and on the US, being the host country, not to create new obstacles to pave the way for a dialogue between the two leaders.

Burns reiterated the US "will not back down" on their values, including the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait while stressing China should further open its market to provide a fair business environment for American companies.

US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky told the forum cooperation, which is lacking, should be part of the ties, and called for a comprehensive agreement and agenda on cooperation.

"Sober reflection, rather than a reactive cycle, or escalatory momentum should govern the relationship between the two sides."

Saying it is important to maintain a dialogue, Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta called on the two powers to cooperate on global challenges like disease and poverty.

"I hope that the United States and China normalize relations, engage in patient dialogue and set up mechanisms of regular consultation. This is what global powers need to do - show the responsibility, lessen tensions that negatively impact all of us," said the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in his opening remarks.

The forum today will feature panel discussions on trade and economy, science and technology, people-to-people exchanges, global challenges and international finance as well as two roundtables on international security and Hong Kong's future.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com