Deng Xiaoping boosts China's international status
(people.com.cn)
Updated: 2004-08-05 15:43

"Deng Xiaoping is the first Chinese leader to visit the United States after the founding of the People's Republic of China. His manner and glamour, especially his straightforwardness, enjoyed the trust of the American people. He changed the traditional views the American people had for the Chinese leaders and China. He succeeded in the strategy of Chinese diplomatic relations," said David Lampton, dean with the China Research Department of the International Research Institute under the Johns Hopkins University and famous expert on China issue.

He held an interview with a People's Daily reporter to the United States on the occasion of marking the 100th anniversary of Deng Xiaoping's birthday.

He pointed out during the interview that one of Deng Xiaoping's major diplomatic strategies was to establish and improve the relations with the United States. That was an important component of Deng's global diplomatic strategy. The strategy was based on his correct assessment of China's status and the world's situation. His view that "peace and development are the two subjects for the present world" is valuable both to China and to the entire world.

Lampton said Deng Xiaoping was very pragmatic. It is known to all, China was once in a closed-door situation and in a long-tern opposite state with the West World. It is Deng Xiaoping who changed China's foreign strategy and advocated economic cooperation instead of political antagonism. Because of this, China's relations with the developed countries in the West; especially with the United States were improved and enhanced. Both China and the United States have benefited from the improvement of the relations between the two countries.

He added that everyone knows the Taiwan problem is the main obstacle for establishing and developing Sino-US relations. Deng knew this well. The problem needs a long time to settle. Sino-US cooperation in other fields, especially in the economic and trade cooperation, was not affected due to the Taiwan problem.

He continued to say that in the later years of the "Cultural Revolution," Deng started to consider how to make up the losses caused by the "Cultural Revolution," how to restore Chinese economy, education and science and technology, and how to catch up with the advanced countries in the world. Deng changed the past closed-door policy and sent students and various talents to the advanced countries in the world. They were asked to study hard and try their utmost to catch up with the advanced countries in the world. The establishment and improvement of Sino-US relations were favorable for China to realize the above-mentioned goals and China's modernization. China sent a lot of students to study abroad. And half of them were sent to the United States.

He also mentioned the mutual benefits achieved in the areas of economy and trade. With the improvement of the bilateral relations the US import volume accounted for 30 to 40 per cent of China's export products.

Lampton stressed that the three joint Shanghai communiqu¨|s signed between the two countries are the foundation stones for Sino-US relations, of them, two were signed during Deng's times. Deng played a big role in pushing forward the long-term and stable development of Sino-US relations.

Lampton holds that Deng Xiaoping's foreign strategy has continued to exert an important influence on the present China's foreign policy. The present world situation is still the two subjects of "peace and development" put forward by Deng. In addition, Deng thought that the Sino-US relations were one of the most important relations in China's foreign policy. At present, the Chinese government still attaches great importance to the Sino-US relations. In the economic field, he wanted China enter into the world. His strategy to make China a powerful economic power in the world is still exerting influence.

He said in conclusion, Deng's policies benefit China in its foreign policy.