US and china need each other
By Chris Nixon Cox
I learned a lot from my grandfather and heard many stories
about China from him. He always thought a lot about China. China was “something
very important to him” and a major accomplishment for his administration was
opening the doors to China. He would talk lot about it and how it was important
to do it as a fit to the US strategy:
more importantly it was the right thing to do. He really enjoyed his meetings, specifically
those with the Chinese leaders – he had a great and constructive relationship
with Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai and appreciated the friendship with
them.
My father took me to China in 1997 when I was 18 years old
and just out of high school. It was the first time I visited a foreign country
outside of the Caribbean. Together with my father, we met with Wang Daohan (the
then President of Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits) in
Shanghai and I was very impressed with how much wisdom he had about Chinese
foreign policy, the relationships with the surrounding territories. He was a
very astute thinker about the world.
My dad remarked on the fact that, when he was in Shanghai,
Pudong was essentially a cow pasture. 5-7 years later, here is this big new
city that builds up in Pudong. Even at that age, I was aware of China’s rapid
growth and to see it continue today isn’t surprising because I have been to
Beijing for over 50 times and there is something very different every time.
China is always changing, always developing. When I go back to Beijing now,
many of the Beijing city government offices have been moved to the suburbs and
a new airport will be built. So maybe the next time I visit, I think it will be
(I will be using) the new airport.
I have many Chinese friends … and I really enjoy being
around them. My Chinese friends are always hospitable. China has a great
culture of being welcoming and treating guest very well. With everyone I have
met in China, they all have been very friendly. Whether I am received at a
government meeting, or at someone’s personal home or business, all Chinese
people have been very welcoming. Hospitality is all the same (throughout the
years). There is a real optimism among the Chinese people. Another major change
is that there is now a focus on environmental quality. I feel that there is
this interest on the quality of life, leisure time and environment.
We would like to increase assets under management we have in
China... we want to do more in China. We think there are a lot of opportunities
in the financial sector. We are ready to grow our business there, especially
after the policies favoring/attracting foreign investments. We have seen that
the Chinese government continues to open up the financial sector, which will
benefit us and the world. We have had great conversations with the Chinese regulatory
authorities; they are very welcoming and encourage us to come to participate in
the Chinese markets.
With regards to the US-China relations, I take the long-term
point of view. I think the two countries both need each other. There are some
commonalities between China and the United States, whether it’s the large
amount of trade, an interest in a clean environment, an interest in combatting
terrorism. Additionally, hundreds of thousands of Chinese come into the US and
many US citizens go to China. I believe
in the US and China relationship. I would like to see it grow and prosper and
work out well for both countries. If there is anything I can do to help promote
bilateral relationship, I would do it. I think it is important that China
continues to grow in a peaceful way which is good for the US and the world. US
should have a policy that promotes stability within China.
I think that the two countries must go a cooperative way.
China should be congratulated for being able to achieve this growth and have a
climate of political stability at the same time. I think it’s a remarkable
achievement.
The key ingredients to China’s success are: the Chinese
people, its long culture and wise political leadership. The Chinese people are
very entrepreneurial and hard working. They have a real desire to succeed. The
long culture is also very important: the founding of China goes back for
millennia, which makes Chinese people feel very secure about themselves. In
addition, wise political leadership should also be credited for China’s
remarkable accomplishments. Deng Xiaoping’s view about how China should grow
peacefully and economically was a very wise policy, which was continued by
leaders for many decades afterwards. China has been blessed with having very wise
leaders who took the long-term view and who, most importantly, are truly
concerned with the welfare of the people.
(The author is the grandson of former US
President Richard Nixon and Vice Chairman of Asia, Middle East and public
policy,BrightSphere Investment Group. The article is based on the
interview by Zhang Niansheng)
Source:
People’s Daily
US and china need each other
Reviewed by PEOPLES MAIL
on
13:21
Rating:
No comments: