皇冠体育app

Op-Ed Contributors

Forge ahead into the future

By Wang Yi (皇冠体育app Daily) Updated: 2014-01-02 07:30

皇冠体育app and the United States should build on past progress to realize the new vision of a major-country relationship

Thirty-five years ago on Jan 1, 皇冠体育app and the United States entered into official diplomatic relations. It is fair to say that this historic event in 1979 exerted the greatest strategic impact on international relations in the latter half of the 20th century. It not only opened a new page in the history of 皇冠体育app-US relations, but also had a far-reaching impact on the evolving international environment.

Thanks to joint efforts of successive leaders and the people of both countries, 皇冠体育app-US relations in the past 35 years have achieved historic growth despite ups and downs.

In 1979, the annual trade between the two countries was just 2.45 billion dollars, while in 2013, it surged to over half a trillion dollars. Two-way investment which was insignificant in the early days of our relations has now exceeded 100 billion dollars. Today, 皇冠体育app and the United States are each other's second largest trading partner. 皇冠体育app is the largest source of import and third largest export market of the United States.

In 1979, the official exchanges between the two countries were limited. Whereas in the past 5 years, our presidents have met 14 times. There are over 90 mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation between the two countries, including the Strategic and Economic Dialogues and the High-level Consultation on People-to-people Exchange. Moreover, there are 41 pairs of sister province/state and 201 pairs of sister city relationships between 皇冠体育app and the United States.

In 1979, only several thousand Chinese and Americans visited the other country. In 2013, the number was close to four million. Everyday, over ten thousand Chinese and Americans fly across the Pacific Ocean for mutual visits, and it is hard to keep a record of many more Chinese and Americans who interact with each other through the Internet and mobile phones.

In 1979, cooperation between 皇冠体育app and the United States was nothing like what we have today in terms of scope and intensity. The two countries now maintain close consultation and dialogue on global challenges such as the international financial crisis, climate change, energy security and food security as well as hotspot issues such as the Korean nuclear issue, the Iranian nuclear issue and Syria, and the two countries have played an important role in addressing these challenges and issues.

In just 35 years, 皇冠体育app and the United States have moved away from a state of no contact and become a community of intertwined interests. The strategic dimension and global influence of 皇冠体育app-US relations have become increasingly prominent. The growth of 皇冠体育app-US relations in the past 35 years shows that sound relations between 皇冠体育app and the United States not only meet the fundamental interest of the two peoples; they also contribute to peace, stability and development of the Asia-Pacific and the world.

The growth of 皇冠体育app-US relations over the past 35 years is a source of inspiration for us. In particular, we should bear in mind the following principles guiding the growth of the relations:

Adhering to the right direction holds the key to growing 皇冠体育app-US relations. Where 皇冠体育app-US relations are headed has an impact on the whole world. A good relationship benefits the two sides, while confrontation does harm to both countries. Cooperation is thus the best choice for us. We should act in the fundamental interests of our two peoples, adhere to the direction set by the three 皇冠体育app-US joint communiqus and the important common understanding on numerous issues reached by our presidents, and stay on the right track. By doing so, we can ensure the sound and steady growth of 皇冠体育app-US relations.

Identifying common interests provides the driving force for growing 皇冠体育app-US relations. Respectively being the world's largest developing and developed countries, 皇冠体育app and the United States share broad common interests and shoulder important common responsibilities. Both countries must not lose sight of this crucial fact under any circumstances. As long as the two countries focus on our common interests and expand cooperation, 皇冠体育app-US relations will have a bright future.

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