When they met for the first time in Beijing on March 19, President Xi Jinping told US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that China and the US have far more shared interests than differences, and cooperation is the only correct choice for both countries. Tillerson vowed that the U.S. side is ready to develop relations with China based on the principles of no confrontation, no conflict, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and strengthen bilateral cooperation to address global challenges together.
Win-win cooperation was recognized by both sides, which sent a positive signal to the future course of China-US relations. The concept will continue to shape and define the upcoming summit meeting between the two countries in April.
Since diplomatic ties were established in 1979, bilateral relations have been moving forward — in spite of some twists and turns, in no small part thanks to the prevailing concept of win-win cooperation.
Win-win cooperation meets the demand of both countries. China is in the midst of pursuing the Chinese Dream to revitalize the country, while America is chanting, “Make America great again.” Only with mutual cooperation can both countries reach their goals. To this end, both countries should meet each other halfway and work together on the basis of no confrontation and mutual respect. Their respective aspirations will offer common ground for both countries to work together.
No confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation mean cooperation driven by each other’s national interests, not ideologies. Some may argue that different social systems render mutual respect impossible, which is a lopsided view: Mutual respect in essence is respect for each other’s sovereignty and core interests, for the will of its people and the path of development, and for each other’s cultural traditions and heritage. This is not too much to ask of each other.
Win-win cooperation is rooted in mutual accommodation. It is only natural that countries with different conditions will have different opinions. China believes that both countries should focus on common ground and manage their differences effectively, and ensure bilateral ties continue to move forward on the right track. At the 18th CPC Congress, China reiterated the concept of accommodation and inclusiveness, which should serve as the guiding principle for countries with different conditions and development models to accommodate and learn from each other.
To be specific, China and the US have a lot to offer each other. The US is highly developed in realms such as rule-based society, education, technology and innovation, which are highly sought-after strengths. China advocates peaceful development and harmony among neighboring countries, and emphasizes building good neighborly relations based on amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness, which all merit due attention from the US.
Win-win cooperation will be the driving force behind a new type of major country relations between China and the US. The Chines leadership put forward this proposal five years ago and have been advocating for its practice since, with a view to advancing bilateral ties to the benefit of the two people and the world at large. No confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation will anchor this new type of major country relations. As things stand now, conditions are in place for the establishment of such a relationship, as President Xi Jinping put it that the political will, experiences, mechanisms, popular support and cooperation potential are all in place. The visit by Secretary Tillerson has been further cemented the political will, and lends greater momentum to the development of such a relationship.
Win-win cooperation answers the calling of our times. After gauging the international landscape in the 1980s, the Chinese leadership came to the conclusion that peace and development would remain the two major undertakings of mankind. It holds true for countries of the same system or otherwise. For China and the US, it is essential for both to cooperate to address cross- border threats such as global terrorism and proliferation of nuclear weapons. Also, both countries have been engaged in close cooperation to overcome the global financial crisis and in the economic arena, reflecting the shared interests and pursuits of the two countries.
At the just concluded “two sessions” of China, Premier Li Keqiang highlighted in his work report to the National People’s Congress that against the backdrop of profound international political and economic changes, China will always stand on the side of peace and justice and continue to contribute to world peace, global development and uphold the global order. China will continue to work with the international community in the common effort to build a new type of international architecture defined by win-win cooperation and make new contributions to the building of community of common destiny for all mankind. Hence, there are ample room for China and the US to work together, in line with the keen aspiration shared by people around the world.
Win-win cooperation is highly relevant in our times, as it is both practical and actionable, and it carries the moral appeal to rally support from people all around the world.
