Reflecting on 45 years of U.S.-China ties

The more than 200 people who gathered in San Francisco to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations heard insights from China's ambassador to the United States and exchanged ideas on maintaining stable ties between the two countries.

Ambassador Xie Feng, in a recorded speech played at Saturday's event at the Hyatt Regency, called the establishment of the China-U.S. relationship in 1979 not only "a milestone in China-U.S. as well as international relations", but also "a significant event that benefited the two nations and contributed to world peace and prosperity".

Bilateral trade has since grown more than 200-fold, accounting for one-fifth of global trade; two-way investment has topped $260 billion, he said.

Xie said that more than 5 million people traveled across the Pacific every year before the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the two nations have worked together to combat terrorism, financial crises and climate change and assumed responsibilities on almost all global challenges.

"The relationship has grown into one of the most deeply intertwined bilateral relationships with the broadest areas of shared interest and cooperation," he said.

While he detailed the positives, Xie also told the audience that antagonism harms both sides while partnership benefits all.

The root cause for the ups and downs over the past few years is that the U.S. side looks at China as its main competitor, said Xie, and some even refer to China as an "existential threat".

"Containment and regime change, typical in the Cold War years, are short-sighted and dangerous, as pointed out already by many fair-minded people," he continued.

"The key is to manage differences properly, not allowing them to dominate the relationship," Xie said.

The ambassador also noted that "decoupling leads to nowhere, and we need to work together to win-win results".

More than 70,000 American companies are sharing in the dividends of China's development, with exports to China supporting 930,000 American jobs, according to Xie.

"If the U.S. really gets 'disadvantaged', how is it possible for cooperation to have lasted for 40 to 50 years? Is it really in the U.S. interest to focus solely on containing China, even at the cost of abandoning free trade, market principles and the spirit of contracts?" Xie asked.

"Trade war, industrial war and tech war have no winners. Decoupling will not bring the wanted results," he continued. "Statistics show that ending the permanent normal trade relations with China would lead to a $1.6 trillion economic loss for the U.S.."

Amy Tong, secretary of Government Operations in California, moved from China's Guangdong province 40 years ago with her family to the Golden State.

She said her father, now in his mid-80s, is still active in the Chinese community. "Why? Because I do feel it's very important to continue to provide insight and leadership in fostering mutual understanding and cultural exchanges to build the bond (between the two countries)."

California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Tong to lead people-to-people exchanges with China.

"Facing the most critical juncture between our two nations, the California government has added people-to-people exchanges to the workload in addition to climate change and economic exchange with China," she said.

Jin Lan, president of the Oregon-based China Council, recently celebrated with friends from home and abroad the 20th anniversary of his grassroots organization.

In two decades, Lan and the council have sponsored conferences, exhibitions and seminars to bolster people-to-people exchanges and have hosted delegations from various parts of China.

Lan told China Daily that while many U.S. politicians have an "adverse perception of U.S.-China relations" now, "We will foster a more nuanced culture of grace between the peoples of America and China."

Academic and scholarly interaction is a major component of the exchanges, said Scott Rozelle, an economic policy researcher and professor at Stanford University.

As the co-director of the Stanford Center on China's Economy, Rozelle led his students through his Rural Education Action Program to conduct research and study trips in China.

"Among the most productive research collaborations in all academia — including science, technology, engineering and mechanics, and social science and humanities — is between scholars in the U.S. and China," Rozelle told China Daily.

"The number one relationship that is behind the China-U.S. relationship is the China-U.S. academic exchanges. It's us (scholars) really behind the inventions, new technologies," he said.

Chinese scholars and students also frequently visit the U.S., giving lectures to increase research enthusiasm and strengthen collaboration.

"We will always be great friends as long as we continue our people-to-people relations," said David Haubert, Alameda County supervisor for District 1. "If you go there (China), you will understand."

Haubert has been to China 16 times in 10 years and visited 25 cities. "The hospitality of Chinese people is overwhelming," he said.