30 years of Sino-US relations

Source: | 12-16-2008 09:43

Scholars from China and the US are in Beijing for a forum to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The event is organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and focuses on the past, present and future of China-US relations.

The forum opened with a warm welcome to the scholars from both China and the United States.

The two-day meeting brought them to Beijing to review the past and evaluate the future of China-US relations.

Despite the ups and downs over the past 30 years, changes in the bilateral relationship have been fundamental.

Kenneth Lieberthal, visiting fellow of John L. Thornthon China Center, said, "I remember when the US and China established diplomatic relations then the relations is almost based on containing the Soviet Union. So it was clearly security and strategic with very little people-to-people exchange, economic exchange. Now the relationship is totally different. We developed a wide range, mature relationship."

In January, 1979, in the wake of the Vietnam War, China and the US normalized relations, opening a new chapter in bilateral ties.

30 years later, the relationship between the two countries has become one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world.

There are now more than 60 dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between the two countries.

And trade volume has increased by a multiple of 120 from 1979 to 2007.

In facing the global financial crisis, Professor Huang Ping from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences believes these united efforts are essential.

Huang Ping, professor of Chinese Academyof Social Science, said, "The only way is that we have to work together closely not only the US and China, but also all of us should work with our neighbour countries. All of us work together to handle new challenges."

In defining their future relationship, it's thought the two countries will focus more on global issues.

Kenneth Lieberthal said, "We will enter a new stage in the relationship as we move forward. In the past, our relationship has been mostly focused on bilateral issues and those remain important. But as we go forward, the role of the US and the role of China the relationship increasingly will focus on global issues, climate change, clean energy, financial crisis not the traditional security issues. Increasingly it will be important for the US and China to deal with each other to promote global peace and prosperity."

As common interests increase, mutually-beneficial cooperation has also expanded.

And experts expect the relationship will be even more important in the next 30 years.

Editor:Zhang Ning