The first round of the Diplomatic and Security Dialogue between China and the United States slated for Wednesday in Washington D.C. will help further push forward China-U.S. relations in the spirit of win-win cooperation.
The move is seen as an important step in implementing the outcomes of the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Mar-a-Lago, Florida in April.
The Diplomatic and Security Dialogue is one of the four-pronged high-level dialogue mechanisms initiated by the two leaders in the meeting, which has set the course for future cooperation between Beijing and Washington. The other three dialogues cover the economy, law enforcement and cybersecurity, and social and cultural issues.
The newly established dialogue mechanism is aimed at strengthening high-level communication, enhancing mutual understanding and trust, as well as promoting win-win cooperation between China and the United States.
The Diplomatic and Security Dialogue, expected to include various topics of bilateral and global relevance, is another encouraging sign for bilateral ties following the announcement by both sides of the "early harvest" in May from a 100-day plan on which Xi and Trump had agreed on in the Mar-a-Lago meeting to bolster economic and trade cooperation.
It is obviously crucial for the world's two major countries to strengthen their communication and cooperation in the fields of diplomacy and security, which are an important part of bilateral ties, in addition to trade and economy.
Wednesday's dialogue will be co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. Fang Fenghui, a member of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) and chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, will also participate in the dialogue.
Such a high-level lineup itself represents a footnote to the significance attached by the two sides to delivering "a good start," and both countries have expressed their willingness to work together for positive results from the dialogue.
On the one hand, against the backdrop of the complicated international security situation, it is imperative for Beijing and Washington to shoulder their responsibilities in resolving issues such as terrorism, nuclear non-proliferation and regional conflicts, with an aim to promote global peace and stability. Dialogue will help the two sides reach consensus, coordinate their positions and cooperate.
On the other hand, as differences and sensitive issues remain, it is crucial for the two sides to better understand each other's strategic intentions, clarify misunderstandings, enhance mutual trust, manage differences and avoid conflict and confrontation through effective communication.
It is equally important for the two countries to set a clear-cut goal of mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly work toward it in a candid and down-to-earth manner. As Xi has said, "cooperation is the only right choice for China and the United States."
Only by sticking to the principles of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation can China and the United States continue the positive momentum from the Xi-Trump meeting for healthy bilateral ties, and make the four-pronged dialogue mechanism a strategic pillar in building a constructive China-U.S. partnership.
