Building bridges, not digging moats

With the passing of former US president Jimmy Carter, the world lost a great humanitarian and a man of integrity, decency, vision and compassion. Carter not only made an impact in the United States but also in China.

China offered its deep condolences, saying Carter was the "driving force" behind the establishment of diplomatic ties between the US and China in 1979.

One area where Carter does not get enough credit for in the US, but does in China is the building of bridges between our two nations, especially around student and people-to-people exchanges.

Carter welcomed China's late leader Deng Xiaoping to the White House during the latter's landmark 1979 trip, weeks after Beijing and Washington established official diplomatic ties.

They signed agreements on science, technology, culture, education and commerce, officially launching high-level exchanges, which opened a floodgate of opportunities for our two nations.

Carter remained committed to the development of Sino-US relations throughout his presidency and life. He visited China many times and was received by many Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping, and was considered an "old friend" of China.

Carter said normalizing relations with China was one of his proudest achievements as president.

There have been many great achievements and benefits for both nations because of the vision and courage displayed by Deng and Carter.

Today, a chasm exists between the two largest economic, military and technological powers. A widening split is emerging, with distrust and disagreements on a range of issues that will shape the global landscape for decades.

The US and China comprise the most significant bilateral relationship in the world. All major global issues intersect at the corner of Washington, DC, and Beijing.

Our two countries and the rest of the world can benefit from collaboration and cooperation on issues of core importance and national interest at this moment in history: from managing climate change to developing sensible mechanisms to govern artificial intelligence, from reducing nuclear proliferation and conflicts risks to preventing and managing the next pandemic and economic downturn.

Our respective leaders owe it to their people and the world to avoid a conflict or devastating war. Their actions, reactions and inactions will impact the people of China, the US and all of humanity.

Our two nations benefited greatly in the past from people-to-people exchanges, friendships and awareness of each other's systems of government, economy, language, educational structure and culture.

We need to find a path forward that outlines a much more prosperous future for the people of the US, China and other nations.

At a time when we should be finding ways to pull together, we are pulling apart. There is need to enhance educational and people-to-people engagement between our nations, perhaps more so today than ever before.

After a great fourth-grade teacher sparked my interest in China in the early 1960s, I took my first two trips to China in 1989 and dozens more over the years, crisscrossing the country.

As a lifelong China observer, I have witnessed the transformative power of cross-cultural collaboration and exchanges. Those experiences have enriched my understanding of the Chinese people's hopes and dreams and allowed me to share my experiences with my fellow citizens. Together, we can work toward solving the world's problems and building a better world for all.

Incoming US President-elect Donald Trump has promised to protect US' national interests against a rising China. He can uphold that promise to the US people and simultaneously strengthen people-to-people and student exchanges.

Former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger once said, "China is one of the central challenges of our time, and we need to forge a deeper understanding between the US and China."

It is vitally important to both nations that we understand each other better and find common ground to ensure peace, respect and recognition to facilitate communication, collaboration, coordination and competition, while avoiding unnecessary confrontations and conflict.

I hope the incoming Trump administration can see past the hawkish outlook on China and find openings so we can work together to open, at a minimum, a new chapter of educational and people-to-people exchanges.

May the "Year of the Snake", which is associated with transformation, renewal and spiritual growth help nudge our two nations forward. Snakes are known for their ability to shed their skin, symbolizing the process of letting go of the old and embracing the new.

I can imagine Carter and Deng smiling down from heaven seeing the value of their vision and work continue.

The author is the former Michigan state superintendent of schools. He has a lifelong interest in US-China relations and has worked to build educational, cultural and economic ties for more than four decades between the two nations.