World experts have lauded Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent interview with The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), saying it helps the world better understand China and that China-U.S. cooperation can make the world a better and peaceful place. [Special coverage]
In a written interview with the U.S. paper ahead of his first state visit to the United States as Chinese president, Xi talked about topics ranging from global governance to international cooperation, China-U.S. relations and China's domestic issues.
XI'S WORDS PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING OF CHINA
"President Xi's discussing the matters of the military, the economy, corruption, etc., goes a long way in helping us understand China," William J. Carroll, president emeritus of U.S. Benedictine University, told Xinhua.
"Xi has demonstrated in this interview that he is truly a world leader. Leadership in the 21st Century demands an understanding of world problems and that a single country's problem is all our problem," Carroll said.
His words were echoed by Brazilian expert Ronnie Lins, director of the Brazil-China Center, who said that Xi's focus on domestic matters in the interview reflects an aspect of globalization.
"Globalization leads to more transparency and cooperation, so that mankind as a whole walks towards everyone's well-being," Lins told Xinhua.
Among the subjects discussed in Xi's interview are China's internal reforms, the fight against corruption and the Internet. Those are issues important not only to China but to the entire world, Lins said, adding that new regulations and incentives can benefit foreign investors in China.
CHINA, U.S. SHOULD COOPERATE, NOT CONFRONT
In the interview, Xi called for seeing the larger picture when approaching China-U.S. relations rather than just focusing on differences.
"Our two countries should understand and respect each other, expand common ground and properly handle differences, and respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns," Xi said.
"If two big countries like ours do not cooperate with each other, just imagine what will happen to the world," Xi said, adding that both history and reality show that China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation.
Lauding Xi's remarks on the China-U.S. relations, Carroll said that "the future of the world in the 21st century and beyond rests on how well China and the United States get along."
"China and the United States must be friends and work together to make the world a better and peaceful place," he said.
Carroll said as the two countries share a common goal -- peace, the smaller differences can be worked out over time.
"Cooperation between China and the United States will bring peace to the region and economic growth and development; it will also enhance our two countries and the world in many ways from peace, to prosperity, to health care, to environmental betterment, etc.," he said.
"I trust that our presidents' (Xi-Obama) meeting will move the world closer to harmony by deepening the friendship and trust between our countries," Carroll said.
MORE EXCHANGES, DIALOGUES NEEDED IN CHINA-U.S. TIES
In Xi's interview with the WSJ, he recalled his several trips to the United States. "I could tell from these personal experiences that the Chinese and Americans cherish very friendly sentiments toward each other," Xi said.
For Carroll, exchanges between the two peoples, especially the youths, are "absolutely fundamental" to China and the United States becoming close friends.
"Let our young people experience each other very early in their educational journey and continue through college. By studying and working together in the classroom, we become friends. As these students grow old and take their place at every level of society, they will be forever impacted by their experience with their Chinese and/or American friends from school days. It is very difficult to make your friend an enemy," he said.
According to Lins, the Brazilian expert, the China-U.S. relations must be handled through dialogues. He called for more exchanges between the two countries, which can improve relations in the political, economic and social arenas.
As two largest economic powers in the world, China and the U.S. must overcome their difficulties through dialogue and use their expertise for collective benefits, Lins said.
"I see a more promising world in the future, in which these two countries have a closer relationship," Lins said.
