Beijing, Washington should lead way to peace, development

At a time of intensifying geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, climate vulnerability and rapid technological change, the roles of China and the United States are globally significant. As the world's largest economies and most influential actors, their relationship is a core pillar of global stability.

US President Donald Trump's three-day state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday provides a timely opportunity to recalibrate this relationship through renewed dialogue and strategic restraint. The trajectory of China-US relations will shape both bilateral outcomes and global development, particularly across the Global South.

Today's interconnected risks exceed any single state's capacity. Armed conflicts destabilize regions, while supply chain vulnerabilities and financial volatility expose structural weaknesses in the global economy.

Concurrently, rising inflation and unsustainable debt burdens constrain policy space in developing countries.

Climate change compounds these pressures, disproportionately affecting low-income regions.

Across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, policy priorities remain centered on economic recovery, poverty alleviation, food security, infrastructure and technological access.

These concerns contrast sharply with the growing strategic competition between major powers.

Against this backdrop, China and the US bear a heightened responsibility to manage their differences within a framework of strategic stability.

History demonstrates that major power confrontation generates negative externalities falling disproportionately on developing economies. Trade disruptions, capital market instability and geopolitical risks erode investor confidence and constrain long-term growth. A predictable China-US relationship is, therefore, a global public good.

High-level political engagement is indispensable. Trump's visit underscores the continuing relevance of top-level diplomacy in stabilizing expectations and reducing misperceptions. Institutionalized dialogue serves as a mechanism for crisis management, trust building and policy coordination.

While structural differences will persist, they can be managed through communication and bounded competition rather than escalating confrontation. Moving beyond zero-sum frameworks toward pragmatic cooperation is essential in addressing transnational challenges.

Three principles should underpin this relationship: peace, mutual respect and development.

First, peace is the precondition for systemic stability and long-term economic growth. Disruptions in China-US relations have immediate spillover effects on global trade, investment and technological collaboration. In a fragile global economy, such disruptions impose severe costs on developing countries with limited resilience.

Second, mutual respect is necessary for sustainable engagement. This entails recognizing differences in political systems, development models and strategic interests, while avoiding policies that escalate tensions. A stable relationship requires both sides to exercise strategic restraint and prioritize long-term systemic stability over short-term tactical gains.

Third, development must remain central to global governance. China has advanced this priority through the Global Development Initiative, which refocuses international cooperation on poverty reduction, food security, climate action and innovation-driven growth. Increased China-US coordination in development financing and resource alignment would strengthen implementation, particularly in under-resourced regions.

This approach is consistent with the broader concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, which emphasizes interdependence, shared prosperity and cooperative security. It rejects zero-sum competition in favor of collective responses to transnational challenges, placing coordination and mutual benefit at the center of international engagement.

The implications of China-US relations extend deeply into the international system. For developing countries, preserving an open, rules-based and inclusive order is essential. Multilateral institutions remain critical platforms for coordination. As leading stakeholders, China and the US share a responsibility to strengthen these institutions rather than fragment them.

Climate change illustrates the strategic necessity of such cooperation. As the world's two major carbon emitters with different historical responsibilities and development stages, China and the US are indispensable to any credible global climate strategy. Coordinated action in clean energy deployment, climate finance and technological innovation can generate substantial positive spillovers. Conversely, policy divergence can significantly undermine global mitigation efforts.

Equally critical is the stability of the international financial and trading system. Fragmentation into competing blocs reduces efficiency and heightens systemic risk. Constructive engagement between China and the US can help sustain international order principles while mitigating the risks of strategic decoupling.

While strategic differences remain a structural feature, substantial scope exists for functional cooperation in areas such as public health, scientific research, poverty reduction and sustainable development. Expanding such cooperation generates tangible benefits while serving as a stabilizing force.

For developing countries, the stakes are immediate. Their core priorities are directly shaped by the external environment created by major powers. Stability in China-US relations is a practical determinant of development outcomes.

Trump's visit to China represents a timely opportunity to reaffirm shared responsibilities and advance a constructive relationship. By institutionalizing dialogue, exercising strategic restraint and prioritizing development-oriented cooperation, China and the US can move beyond destabilizing frictions. By doing so, they will contribute to a more stable, inclusive and development-focused international order.

The author is a former minister of tourism of Brazil, a distinguished professor at Tsinghua University and a professor at Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen).

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.