On November 14, Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in San Francisco to attend a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and the 30th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. This meeting marks an important opportunity for the two nations to navigate their complex relationship.
Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers once likened the United States and China to “two strong men in a rowboat, a lifeboat, in a turbulent sea, a long way from the shore. Both of them need to be rowing in unison if they are going to get to that shore.”
But how do these two global powers achieve unison amid challenges?
In early September, the state of Illinois announced that Chinese company Gotion High-tech would invest $2 billion to establish an electric vehicle lithium battery manufacturing plant. This venture is expected to create 2,600 new jobs and has been hailed by the governor as the “most significant new manufacturing investment in Illinois in decades.” However, the project has faced scrutiny from some politicians, reflecting the complexities in China-U.S. economic cooperation.
This scenario encapsulates the essence of current China-U.S. relations: cooperation brings mutual benefits, yet political obstacles pose significant challenges.
Over the past several months, high-level officials and delegations from both countries have engaged in dialogues on various topics, including climate change, finance, and regional conflicts. Despite these efforts, tensions remain. For instance, sanctions on Chinese technology firms have raised concerns about the United States’ stance on China’s development. Additionally, U.S. arms sales and political support to China’s Taiwan region continue to strain the relationship.
Joseph Nye, former Dean of Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, observed that the China-U.S. relationship has experienced many cycles since 1949. He emphasized that “many of these problems like climate and pandemics, we have to cooperate.”
Beyond cooperation, there is a need to recognize the complementary strengths of both nations. China’s prowess in battery production and technology aligns with the United States’ rapidly expanding market and innovation leadership. In infrastructure, the U.S. could benefit from China’s extensive experience in construction to modernize its roads and bridges.
In October, President Xi told U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, “We have a thousand reasons to grow the China-U.S. relationship, and none whatsoever to wreck it.” It is imperative for both countries to ensure that, despite turbulent times, they remain committed to maintaining a stable and constructive relationship.
Punching holes in the boat could sink it. Instead, China and the United States must row together, navigating challenges to reach the shore of mutual prosperity.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
