At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump paid a state visit to China from May 13 to 15. The two presidents met in Beijing for an extensive discussion on national governance, bilateral relations, and international and regional hot spots. This sent an important message to the world: Achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, and the two countries can help each other succeed and advance the well-being of the whole world. President Xi Said that he stand ready to work together with President Trump to set the course and steer the giant ship of China-U.S. relations, so as to make 2026 a historic, landmark year that opens up a new chapter in China-U.S. relations.
President Xi and President Trump agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, providing strategic guidance for bilateral relations over the next three years and beyond. It should be positive stability where cooperation is the mainstay and the relationship gets more resilient through exchange and cooperation. As the world’s top two economies, China and the United States share deep ties. Neither can cut the other out, or prosper without the other. We both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. While a confrontational relationship will be disastrous for both countries and the world, China-U.S. cooperation will get many great things done to the benefit of both and all.
It should be healthy stability where competition is kept within proper limits and is not turned into a zero-sum game. Major-country competition is nothing new, but China-U.S. relations should not be defined by competition. When competition does happen, it must be a healthy one where we learn from each other, pursue excellence together, and compete fairly in compliance with rules. The purpose of competition should be to outdo oneself, so that both sides become better.
It should be constant stability where differences are manageable and the relationship should not be like a roller coaster. Both sides should maintain policy continuity and stability. It is very important for both sides to honor our words and move in the same direction. A positive outlook of China-U.S. cooperation will provide more certainty for both countries’ development and for the international situation.
It should be lasting stability where peace is expectable and conflicts and wars are not acceptable. Peaceful coexistence is the biggest common denominator of China and the United States. Conflict and confrontation between us will produce consequences no one can bear. The bottom line is that both sides must abide by the three China-U.S joint communiqués, respect each other’s social systems and development paths, respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and respect each other’s right to development.
In short, building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability is not a slogan. It should be a goal both sides uphold and entail concerted actions. Now that the presidents have set the direction, we should add more substance to this new vision and translate it into concrete policies and measures, so as to write a new chapter in China-U.S. relations.
(By the Consulate General of the people’s republic of China in Willemstad)