Opinion: China, US need higher-level meetings
By Niu Xinchun (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-11 06:11

Compared to other exchange or dialogue channels that exist between China and the United States, the recently concluded strategic dialogue is less developed.

Currently there are two kinds of irregular exchange between the two countries. One is the exchange of visits by high-level government officials and even top leaders.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George W. Bush are expected to hold six meetings this year. The foreign ministers of the two nations are also due to hold talks, and there will be a number of meetings of ministry and committee representatives.

The other exchange channel is the establishment of a high-level hotline.

The hotline linking the heads of the two countries and direct telephone contact between foreign ministers have served as very important channels for communication.

At the same time, there are at least four regular communication mechanisms between China and the United States.

Beijing and Washington set up a human rights dialogue mechanism in 1990. A joint commercial and trading committee, chaired by Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Yi, was established as early as in 1983. The committee decided one regular meeting should be held every year.

The two countries set up a defence affairs consultation mechanism at the vice-ministerial level, which calls for two meetings per year.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) , the country's top legislature, and the US Senate have decided to set up a panel with two gatherings every year.

Compared to both regular and irregular dialogue mechanisms, the current strategic dialogue is conducted at a relatively low level.

The United States has also established a strategic dialogue mechanism with Japan, the Republic of Korea and other allies.