Action key to build trust in Sino-US ties

China and the United States should translate their commitment to stable relations into concrete cooperation, deepen mutual understanding and build trust through sustained dialogue, participants at the US-China Political Dialogue 2026 in Beijing said on Thursday.

Max Baucus, former US ambassador to China, said addressing fundamental issues in bilateral relations would require considerable effort, including a genuine acceptance of the two countries' different histories and circumstances.

He urged Americans to devote more attention to understanding China, saying a constructive relationship characterized by strategic stability needed to be backed by concrete action.

"We should be constructive. We do need stability. We also need to be strategic," he said. "We need deeds."

Baucus called for more candid dialogues to identify practical areas for cooperation, urging both sides to "put specific items on the table and figure out ways to accomplish those specific items". Cooperation could start with small, achievable projects before gradually expanding into other areas, he said.

He cited artificial intelligence and cancer diagnosis and treatment as potential areas for collaboration. A greater recognition of shared risks associated with AI, including increasingly capable systems and their potential misuse, could help the two countries focus on finding solutions, he said, adding that the challenges should encourage rather than discourage cooperation.

Liu Haixing, minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said the shared interests of China and the US had grown rather than diminished.

A stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship serves the interests of both peoples and provides an important guarantee for peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, he said.

Liu called on both sides to develop accurate perceptions of each other and deepen their understanding of each other's strategic direction and development path. They should manage differences through mutual respect, seek common ground while respecting differences, and work to turn points of friction into opportunities for cooperation, he said.

He also urged the two countries to expand mutually beneficial cooperation while addressing outstanding problems, and build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges and dialogue. As major powers, they should also strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional issues and fulfill their responsibilities, he said.

The two-day event, hosted by the International Department of the Central Committee of the CPC, concluded on Thursday. It brought together Chinese officials, scholars and think tank representatives, as well as US participants from the Republican and Democratic parties and the strategic and business communities, to discuss how the two countries could best engage with each other amid changes in the Asia-Pacific region and the wider world.

Timothy Stratford, a former assistant US trade representative, proposed that experts from both countries assess and compare the breadth and depth of mutual trust across different areas of bilateral relations.

Such comparisons could reveal differences in perceptions and help distinguish areas where progress would be difficult from those where practical measures could help build confidence.

"We would be able to see clearly where the specific work needs to be done," he said, adding that greater transparency and mutual understanding could provide a foundation for further trust-building.

Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, said a framework for constructive engagement between the world's two largest economies was important for businesses making long-term plans.

"Business leaders do need stability and longer-term plans," he said.

Noting that the trade truce had been extended by only two months, Hart said he hoped the two countries could reach an agreement in early 2027 on a longer extension, giving companies greater certainty for long-term planning.

"We trade a great deal with each other, and I look forward to that continuing to happen for the next many decades," he said.

Chad Futrell, assistant dean of Student Life of Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University, called for a more comprehensive China-US relationship built on trade, investment and broader exchanges among people from all walks of life.

He described China's initiative to invite 100,000 young Americans to visit the country over five years as "a wonderful initiative", expressing hope that initial visits would lead to longer stays and lasting relationships.

"One week or one semester or one year is not enough to understand China," he said.

Such relationships could lay the groundwork for cooperation on shared challenges, including AI safety and climate change, he said. He stressed that progress required broad participation and open communication, with the two countries taking the lead in addressing the most pressing problems.

"Without US-China cooperation, global governance is very difficult," he said.

zhaojia@chinadaily.com.cn