News Analysis: China-U.S. summit sets tone for future

Source: Xinhua | 04-03-2009 08:09

BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The first meeting between the Chinese president and his U.S. counterpart redefined bilateral ties, expanded the scope of future cooperation, and brought China-U.S. ties to a new jumping off point, analysts said.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit in London, Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday agreed to work together to build a "positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century."

NEW DEFINITION, NEW START

The new relationship carries on consensus between Hu and Obama's predecessor George W. Bush and shows the two sides' readiness to further their cooperative relations, Ma Zhengang, president of the China Institute of International Studies, said.

China-U.S. ties are typical of relations between major powers, and an overall defining of such links is very crucial considering their intricacy, Jin Canrong, associate dean with the School of International Studies at China's People's University, said.

China and the United States are seeking common grounds and interests in spite of differences in their social systems and others, and "this reflects positiveness" of their relations, Jin said.