Xi Jinping and Biden connect again, China and the United States seek to answer the "Question of the Century"

(A closer look at China) Xi Jinping and Biden reconnect, China and the United States explore and answer the "Question of the Century"

　　China News Service, Beijing, September 10 (Reporter Huang Yuqin and Liang Xiaohui) Chinese President Xi Jinping had a telephone conversation with US President Biden at an appointment on the morning of the 10th.

This is the second connection between the heads of state of China and the United States since the call on New Year's Eve this year. The two sides conducted candid, in-depth and extensive strategic communications and exchanges on Sino-US relations and related issues of concern.

　　Compared with the call on New Year's Eve seven months ago, the heads of state of China and the United States once again emphasized the importance of the relationship between the world's largest developing country and the largest developed country.

Xi Jinping pointed out that whether China and the United States can properly handle their relations is critical to the future and destiny of the world. It is the question of the century that the two countries must answer.

Biden said that the US-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and how the US and China interact and get along will largely affect the future of the world.

　　Xi Jinping also made it clear that "China-US relations are not a multiple-choice question of whether to do a good job, but a must-answer question of how to do a good job."

In the view of analysts, the metaphor of emphasizing not to do "multiple-choice questions" but to do "must-answer questions" not only shows the importance of Sino-US relations, but also releases China's clear position on how the relations between the two countries should develop.

　　"The importance and strategic nature of Sino-US relations have surpassed the bilateral relations between the two countries. If Sino-US relations are not handled well, it may lead to the division of countries in the world due to the choice of sides, which in turn will have a negative impact on global governance." China Modern International Chen Fengying, a researcher at the Institute of Relations, pointed out that China’s use of “multiple choice questions” or “required answers” ​​to describe the relations between the two countries is to clarify that in China’s vision, there is no option to deliberately sabotage the relations between China and the United States, and it also shows that it has a sense of the relationship between the two countries. Attitude to get back on track.

　　But for some time, the US policy toward China has caused serious difficulties in Sino-US relations.

The outside world has noticed that, whether it was the extreme and wrong China policy of the last U.S. government or the current international containment and suppression of China, a series of negative actions by the U.S. are constantly challenging China’s bottom line, and also for the relationship between the two countries. Getting back on track created no small obstacles.

　　In this regard, Xi Jinping clearly pointed out the problem during the call and emphasized that "this does not conform to the fundamental interests of the two peoples and the common interests of all countries in the world."

Some commentators pointed out that the "must-answer question" on how to improve Sino-US relations is not a unilateral question directed at China, and it also requires the United States to participate in the answer.

Only with an objective and rational perspective can the US avoid and correct mistakes in "answering questions."

　　Where should we start with this "must-answer question" of doing a good job in Sino-US relations?

During the call, Xi Jinping quoted an ancient Chinese poem with profound meaning, "There are many mountains and rivers, but there is no way out, and there is another village in the dark."

In the eyes of experts, this is meant to show that China and the United States need to find new answers to old questions.

　　"If you have the vision of a zero-sum game and fall into the strategic logic of the so-called'superpower competition', Sino-US relations seem to have only one way out of confrontation." Dong Chunling, an associate researcher at the Institute of American Studies, China Institute of Modern International Relations, pointed out that the so-called "no way out of doubt" "It means that the inherent wrong thinking logic has reached a dead end, and how to reach the "another village" of Sino-US relations requires a new idea of ​​equality, mutual benefit, and win-win cooperation.

　　Looking back, China and the United States have worked hand in hand since the "ice-breaking" of bilateral relations in 1971, bringing tangible benefits to all countries.

History and practice have repeatedly demonstrated a truth: Sino-US cooperation, both countries and the world will benefit; Sino-US confrontation, both countries and the world will suffer.

　　Historical experience is also worth learning from now.

At present, climate change, epidemic prevention and control, economic recovery, and major international and regional issues have not only set requirements for cooperation between China and the United States, but also brought opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

In this regard, Chen Fengying analyzed and pointed out that through this important node call, the leaders of the two countries have further clarified the key areas of cooperation in the next stage, which will help to effectively control the bilateral relationship.

　　During the phone call, the leaders of both China and the United States expressed their expectation that the relationship between the two countries will be back on track.

Xi Jinping pointed out that we should show strategic courage and political courage to push Sino-US relations back to the right track of stable development as soon as possible.

Biden emphasized to determine the focus and priority areas where the two sides can cooperate, avoid misunderstandings, misjudgments and unexpected conflicts, and push the US-China relationship back on track.

　　“The position of the heads of the United States and the United States to promote the return of bilateral relations to the right track is of great significance to leading the correct development of Sino-US relations.” Dong Chunling said that in fact, China has always opened the door to cooperation and dialogue, but the United States cannot talk about cooperation while staying in China. The core interest concerns are testing the bottom line.

　　Chen Fengying believes that if the dialogue is to achieve substantial results, the United States must return to respecting China's core interests and focus on the topic of mutual cooperation. This is also the key to answering the "must-answer questions" in Sino-US relations.

(over)