Seeking common ground still key for China-US ties

Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi meets with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Feb 28, in Washington. [Yin Bogu / Xinhua]

Given prevailing concerns about potential uncertainties following Donald Trump's precedent-breaking remarks on sensitive topics, State Councilor Yang Jiechi's visit to Washington D.C. was not about breaking new ground, but about preserving and sustaining the precious turnaround enabled by the recent phone conversation between the US president and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

No doubt opportunities lie ahead if China and the United States choose to get along and cooperate. But the priority now is to end any delusion that a transfer in global leadership is underway, and the Thucydides trap is inescapable. Which makes it especially important for both parties to give and receive the assurance that neither finds a conflict between them desirable.

Thankfully, despite the seemingly rocky start to the Trump-era China-US relationship, the diplomatic dust finally seems to be settling after the leaders of the two countries set a positive tone for ties with their phone conversation. And Yang's talks with Trump and his administration officials are a credible sign of shared interest in cementing the current fine momentum.

From the Chinese perspective, Yang's trip carries additional significance for it coincided with the 45th anniversary of the Shanghai Communiqué.

Issued on Feb 28, 1972, the last day of US president Richard Nixon's historic visit to China, the document established time-honored guiding principles for China-US relations, such as one China, mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, peaceful coexistence and mutual noninterference in internal affairs. Like the Jan 1, 1979, joint communiqué on establishing diplomatic relations and the Aug 17, 1982, joint communiqué on relations with Taiwan, it is an essential component of the political foundation of China-US relations.

Its high-profile commemoration in China conveys a sincere hope to put the all-important relationship back on an even keel. "The Shanghai Communiqué created a new model for countries of different ideologies, cultural traditions and at different development stages to handle relations. It was a pioneering initiative in international relations that remains of important reference value for international relations till this very day," wrote Yang in an article in People's Daily.

It is a pity the date and the matter of such far-reaching significance passed nearly unnoticed on the other side of the Pacific.

If Beijing and Washington could seek common ground and shelve their differences 45 years ago in the chill of the Cold War, they are in far better positions today to formulate a relationship featuring "no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect, win-win cooperation".