China-US trade war 'won't solve problems'

Win-win situation

Explaining why understanding the country is important for US citizens, Locke said, "Unless you really understand China you cannot put together initiatives or policies to either help China or comment on what happens in China.

"We have to remember how long it has taken America to develop many of the systems we have, whether the rule of law, strong protection of intellectual property rights or even education systems. We cannot expect a country like China to suddenly develop all these things in five, 10, 20 years, when it took America more than 100 years.

"It is unrealistic and unfair to expect other countries, not just China, but any other country that is developing, to suddenly mature and develop a system that we would like them to have."

Locke said he has been impressed with President Xi Jinping's initiatives, and the challenge for China is to maintain the commitment to reform and opening-up started by Deng Xiaoping 40 years ago.

"The opening-up and reforms benefit not just the Chinese people but also foreign companies," he said.

"This is a win-win situation we always want to promote. Because American companies, foreign companies, can provide some of the products and services that the Chinese people want. We can provide some of the technology and the services the Chinese leaders want, whether technology for clean energy, to clean up the environment, medical devices and drugs, and even common research in so many areas.

"The reforms and opening-up not only create opportunities for the Chinese people but create jobs and opportunities for these foreign companies."

Locke said further opening-up will not hurt the Chinese people, and he argued that restrictions on foreign investment in China should be reconsidered.

He said more US citizens need to travel to China to better understand the country, and that people from China, at all levels, need to see the US "to appreciate what we have, to understand its diversity of people".

"That is the strength of America, the engine, the force behind our innovation and success," he said.