Beijing, Washington exhorted to promote stable relations
CPC, Democratic, Republican participants in dialogue call for strengthening mutual trust, ties
Political parties of China and the United States have called for strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between Beijing and Washington to promote the stable development of bilateral ties and jointly deal with global challenges.
The call for stronger ties was made via video link on Sept 13 by representatives of the Communist Party of China and members of the Democratic and Republican parties of the US during the 12th China-US Political Party Leaders Dialogue.
The dialogue came after Chinese President Xi Jinping talked by phone with US President Joe Biden on Sept 10.
Speaking at the virtual meeting, Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that both countries need to implement the important consensus reached between the two presidents in their phone conversation, strengthen dialogue and make corresponding efforts to create conditions for bilateral ties to return to the right track of stable development.
Song said that dialogues between Chinese and US political parties are conducive to enhancing the two countries’ communication, understanding and mutual trust.
Former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Howard Dean, who is also former governor of
the state of Vermont, and Republican Carla Hills, former secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and former US trade
representative, were among the US participants.
They said that US-China ties are the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and US-China political parties’ dialogue is a significant part of the bilateral ties.
They also talked about the difficulties in US-China relations but said the countries have many common interests.
Around 50 participants from ministries, universities, think tanks and enterprises from both countries joined in the dialogue.
Meanwhile, Chinese Ambassador to the US Qin Gang told US businesspeople worried by the uncertainties caused by tense China-US relations that they can have certainty from China’s dynamic economy and opening-up. Making it clear that the difficulties do not stem from the Chinese side, Qin told a gathering that the US should avoid making things worse.
At a virtual reception hosted by the US-China Business Council, or USCBC, on Sept 14, Qin said China will continue to welcome US companies to explore the Chinese market, and he hoped the US side will meet China halfway.
The USCBC, in its 2021 member survey conducted in June among 107 US firms operating in China — almost half its members — found that though 95 percent of the polled companies were profitable last year, the respondents said strained US-China relations have had a detrimental impact on them.