Scaling up the strategic dialogue

Foreign Minister Yang and Clinton agreed on the need to step up dialogue on strategic, long-term issues in politics, diplomacy and the economy.

"As we start the new administration of President Obama, we want to deepen and broaden our relationship," Clinton said.

Professor Yan Xuetong, director of the Institute of International Studies at Tsinghua University, said, "Both nations hoped to step up the level of strategic dialogue and both have seen their demands satisfied to some extent. China wants to stabilize bilateral ties through formal regular summits, and the US wants to see linkage between political and economic issues."

Professor Zhu Feng of the Institute of International Studies, Peking University, said the Obama administration has placed economic security at the core of national policy, so the US is pushing discussions towards the economic agenda.

"Updating the strategic economic dialogue indicates the US is paying close attention not only to China's economy, but also the bilateral strategic relationship," Zhu said.

Zhu predicted an increase in regular meetings between the two Presidents, which would provide opportunities to solve problems and disputes, and help stabilize the bilateral ties.

China and the US have already established over 60 formal dialogue mechanisms on political, economic and defense issues. Through these dialogues the two sides have reached agreements on many issues including financial services, product quality, food safety, energy, and environmental protection.

Cooperation on energy and the environment

Energy and environmental protection were one of highlights of Clinton's visit. Accompanied by US special envoy for climate change Todd Stern, Clinton visited the Beijing Taiyanggong Gas-fueled Thermal Power Company, and discussed clean energy and climate change with teachers and students of Tsinghua University. She quoted the old Chinese saying "don't wait until you're thirsty to dig a well" to emphasize the urgency of bilateral cooperation.

A Xinhua article published last Sunday said the Obama administration has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on mineral fuels. A "Green Partnership" deal signed between the two countries in December 2008 would see the US transfer green technology to China as a means to improve global energy management and help safeguard the environment.

Obama has been paying close attention to alternative energy sources and climate change since he took office. He chose Nobel-prize winning physicist Steven Chu as energy secretary and has said more than once that he intends to pursue alternative energy sources, increase usage of green and environment-friendly energy, and boost the share of solar energy, wind power, hydropower, terrestrial heat and bio-power in US consumption.

Clinton confirmed this approach during her visit and said she expected joint efforts with China to exploit and popularize cleaner energy and implement mutually beneficial technology transfer.

Peking University Professor Zhang Haibin predicted the two nations will have many opportunities to improve energy efficiency, jointly exploit clean coal technology and develop new energy sources. Tsinghua University Professor Yan Xuetong said the two countries will step up their technological cooperation.

On the whole, experts are optimistic about future Sino-US relations. Senior researcher Tao Wenzhao said, "Clinton's Asia visit has laid the groundwork for future cooperation between the US and the principal Asian countries, and has drawn up a new blue print for Sino-US relations."

(China.org.cn by Zhou Jing, February 25, 2009)