Ties: Call reaffirms significance of relations

cooperation in areas including the economy, trade, the military, law enforcement, anti-drug operations, local issues and culture.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown from less than $2.5 billion in 1979 to more than $580 billion in 2017, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The accumulated value of all kinds of two-way investment exceeded $230 billion in 2017, compared with almost zero in 1979.

In remarks over the upcoming anniversary of China-US ties, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Sunday that over the past years China and the US have cooperated extensively at bilateral, regional and global levels, including fighting international terrorism and tackling the global financial crisis.

“The facts have fully shown that the development of ChinaUS ties not only has delivered huge benefits to the two peoples but also contributed to peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world,” Lu said.

Ruan Zongze, executive vicepresident of and a senior fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, said that “Xi and Trump reaffirmed the significance of China-US relations and expressed satisfaction with the work of both teams during their phone conversation”.

“This is important, because the teams are going to meet very soon,” he said.

Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said the leaders’ phone conversation set a positive tone for next year’s China-US ties from the perspective of the heads of state though uncertainties will still remain.

“China should manage and control disputes to the greatest possible degree in order to push for the establishment of a constructive China-US relationship,” he said.

According to Ruan, the phone conversation shows the importance both sides attach to their relationship.

“We should have confidence in the future development of bilateral ties. Difficulties or challenges, no matter how hard, will be controlled and managed as long as the two sides remain in contact and consultation,” he said.