China wishes to maintain the existing high-level strategic contact with the United States despite a change of the U.S. government, a senior Chinese official said on Thursday.
It is yet another explicit gesture that the Chinese government has made to the United States that the two sides should work together to secure smooth ties during and after the transfer of the U.S. presidency in next January.
China and the United States are to hold the fifth round of the Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijing next week, under the theme of "laying the cornerstone for long-term Sino-U.S. economic partnership".
U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will head a high-level delegation to meet with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan and a number of prominent ministers.
"We strongly believe that this mechanism should and will carry on (under the new U.S. administration)." Assistant Minister of Finance Zhu Guangyao told resident reporters of major U.S. media organizations in Beijing at a luncheon Thursday.
The SED, together with the Sino-U.S. Strategic Dialogue and the hotline between the two heads of states, has become the major channel for policy makers in the two countries to maintain frequent contact and enhance mutual trust.
Since its inauguration in December 2006, China and the United States have reached consensus on nearly 150 subjects in four rounds of talks. The subjects covered a wide range of fields, including macro-economic policy, environmental protection, energy efficiency, trade promotion and anti-protectionism measures.
Zhu said the Sino-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue has become a very important mechanism to advance economic links and the overall constructive relationship of cooperation between the two countries.
The international financial crisis had added significance to the SED, Zhu said. The challenges required both countries to step up high-level contact, share information and coordinate in developing their macro-economic policy.
Zhu said Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan had maintained "very close contact" with Treasury Secretary Paulson within the SED framework since the collapse of the Lehman Brothers in September. The two sides coordinated on the macro-economic policies they adopted to address the international financial crisis. China's 4-trillion-yuan economic stimulus package was welcomed by the United States. Paulson applauded the move as conducive to stabilizing the global economy.
On the other hand, Zhu said the timely sharing of information between the Chinese and U.S. government on the financial crisis demonstrated the level of cooperation and trust between the two countries.
On the future of the Strategic Economic Dialogue under the incoming Obama administration, Zhu expressed the belief that the cooperative mechanism will be raised to a higher level.
"Further advancing the constructive relationship of cooperation between China and the United States accords with the historical trends and aspiration of the two peoples," Zhu said.
Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao congratulated Obama upon his election as the new President of the United States earlier this month. In a telephone conversation with Obama, Chinese President Hu Jintao expressed appreciation to Obama for emphasizing in his election campaign speeches the great importance of China-U.S. relations.
According to Zhu, the SED has been under close attention and direct guidance of the heads of both countries. During his meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush in Lima last Friday, President Hu said the two countries should make earnest preparation to secure the success of the coming round of SED, Zhu said.
The SED has been held alternatively in Beijing and Washington twice a year since 2007.
The fifth round of SED is to be held in Beijing from Dec. 4 to 5. During the meeting, Chinese and U.S. officials are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including macro-economic policy, measures to address the international financial crisis, energy, environment, trade, investment, Sino-U.S. cooperation on international economic issues, food safety and product quality.
Zhu said one of the outstanding features of the SED is that both sides exchanged views in a very "frank" way behind closed doors. The frankness in debates rendered mutual understanding as both sides learned to accommodate each other's concerns, Zhu said.
He said the exchanges in economic policy have helped advance the overall relationship between China and the United States.
"Sino-U.S. relations will definitely continue to move forward," Zhu said. "This development will not depend on any individual person's will."
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article