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Opinion
Special> Obama's First Visit to China> Opinion
UPDATED: November 23, 2009 NO. 47 NOVEMBER 26, 2009
The New Face of Sino-U.S. Relations
Barack Obama's policy of change bodes well for Beijing
By JIN CANRONG
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An important aspect of "smart power" is advocating multiple partnerships. As for the Sino-U.S. relationship, defining it as a partnership can help the two sides to establish a more practical framework of cooperation.

The implementation of policies, of course, depends on decision-making élites. Obama's decision-making team enjoys abundant experts in Chinese affairs, who have a profound knowledge of the importance and complexity of Sino-U.S. relations. Thus they represent a rational and practical gesture in Chinese policies.

Increasing stability

While problems linger, Sino-U.S. relations have become increasingly mature following more than 30 years in the making. Stability in bilateral relations has continued growing apace.

Indeed, China and the United States share many common interests at bilateral, regional and global levels. In two-way trade, very notably, they are each other's second biggest partners.

Irrespective of any trade or economic disputes, however, Sino-U.S. trade volume offers plenty to demonstrate powerful mutual needs and mutual interests.

At the regional level, both sides share common interests in helping control the North Korean nuclear proliferation crisis, stabilizing Asian financial markets, while preserving the stability of East Asia.

Moreover, at the global level, both Beijing and Washington possess a large scope of cooperation in a flood of topics ranging from antiterrorism to nuclear non-proliferation to climate change, energy security and free trade.

With the enhancement of China's national strength, the United States is attaching unprecedented importance to China, adding to a common awareness of America's strategic arena.

The awareness has made Washington's relationship with China one of utmost importance. This acknowledgement not only sets the keynote for Sino-U.S. relations, but also benefits the future development of the relations.

So far, the two countries have established more than 60 mechanisms for dialogues and discussions, almost covering all fields. Among these, the most outstanding is the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue.

The successful holding of the first round of the double-track dialogue in Washington, D.C. in July, moreover, provided a new platform for strategic communications between the two countries. In addition, it helped clear doubts and strengthen confidence for both sides.

The institutionalization of Sino-U.S. relations has made it possible for any problem to be solved quickly through corresponding channels, thus preventing an overall fallback caused by disputes in any certain field.

When the two countries first established diplomatic relations, America's gross domestic product amounted to 15 times that of China—a figure narrowed down to 3.5 times as of 2008.

This closer balance means that America's ability to alter Sino-U.S. relations unilaterally has declined. Given its priority of internal governance and satisfaction with the current international system, China can be defined as a stable factor in its relations with the United States. The growth of China's national strength is therefore good for the overall stability of Sino-U.S. relations.

China's growth and development model determines that it could pose a problem for the United States. But this problem is not as urgent as its task of handling the financial crisis, antiterrorism and nuclear non-proliferation.

In fact, the United States needs China's support in dealing with all these problems. This brand-new framework will undoubtedly be conducive to the stability of Sino-U.S. relations.

In addition, with the improvement of cross-Straits relations, the Taiwan question has become increasingly within control in Sino-U.S. relations.

We have a good reason to hold an optimistic view on future Sino-U.S. relations. Disputes will continue, to be sure, but no deadlock appears imminent.

The author is associate dean of the School of International Studies at Renmin University of China

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