In the current turbulent and changing world situation, every move in the relations between major countries attracts global attention.

　　As spring bloomed, a meeting in Beijing attracted attention on March 27. On that day, Chinese President Xi Jinping met collectively with representatives of the U.S. business community and strategic academia at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

　　This is the first time that Xi Jinping has had face-to-face communication with American people in Beijing since the meeting between the heads of state of China and the United States in San Francisco in November 2023.

　　"In the past few years, Sino-US relations have experienced many twists and turns and encountered severe challenges, and the lessons are worth learning." Xi Jinping said frankly during the meeting.

　　The so-called "Thucydides Trap" can be traced back to the constant twists and turns in Sino-US relations in recent years.

　　The academic concept of "Thucydides' Trap" is often cited in discussions of international relations. It refers to the fact that in international relations, a rising power poses a challenge to a dominant established power, triggering containment and suppression by the established power. This competition may eventually lead to war.

　　It is worth noting that the academic concept of "Thucydides Trap" was proposed by one of the American representatives who attended the meeting and spoke on the spot - Allison, the founding dean of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

　　Based on his observation of the relationship between emerging powers and established powers in history, Allison proposed the "Thucydides Trap" theory in 2012. In recent years, as he has deepened his understanding of the new type of major-country relations and the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping, Allison has had new thoughts on how major countries can get along with each other. When Allison was invited to participate in an event in China this time, he said that examining the history of the past five hundred years, we can find that war between rising powers and established powers is not inevitable.

　　Is there enough space in the vast earth to accommodate China and the United States?

　　Xi Jinping has previously pointed out: "There is no 'Thucydides Trap' in the world, but repeated strategic misjudgments among major powers may create a 'Thucydides Trap' for themselves."

　　The "Thucydides Trap" is not inevitable, and is also the consensus of many people in the U.S. business community and strategic academic circles who participated in the meeting.

　　As one of the most important bilateral relations in the world, whether China and the United States cooperate or confront each other has a bearing on the well-being of the two peoples and the future and destiny of mankind.

　　Across the Pacific, the road is at your feet.

　　In Xi Jinping’s view, under the current situation, the common interests between China and the United States have not decreased, but have increased. Whether it is traditional fields such as economy, trade and agriculture, or emerging fields such as climate change and artificial intelligence, China and the United States should be a boost to each other's development, rather than a hindrance.

　　"China and the United States' respective successes are opportunities for each other." Xi Jinping pointed out in this meeting that as long as both sides regard each other as partners, respect each other, coexist peacefully, and cooperate for win-win situations, China-US relations will get better.

　　This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States. Over the past 45 years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs but have generally moved forward, which has not only enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, but also promoted world peace, stability and prosperity.

　　At the beginning of this year, when Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden exchanged congratulatory letters to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, they pointed out: History has and will continue to fully prove that adhering to mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation is the correct way for China and the United States to get along. Tao should become the direction of joint efforts of China and the United States in the new era.

　　During this meeting, Xi Jinping said, "China-US relations cannot return to the past, but they can have a better future."

　　｜Producer: Chen Junjun 　

　　｜Director: Zhang Mingxin 　

　　｜Chief Planner: Yu Lan 　

　　｜Planner: Wu Qingcai 　

　　｜Written by: Ma Xueling 　

　　｜Proofreading: Sun Jingbo 　

　　|Visual: Zhang Jianyuan 　

　　｜Produced by the "Xi Yan Dao" studio of China News Network