News

Nations find way to cool Asia-Pacific issues

By Tan Yingzi (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-12 07:16

General Ma Xiaotian (left), deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army's General Staff Department, and General James Cartwright, vice-chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, attend the first China-US Strategic Security Dialogue under the framework of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington on Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Security Dialogue

Apart from setting up the regional affairs consultation mechanism, the two nations also announced the establishment of the China-US Strategic Security Dialogue under the strategic track of the S&ED, with the participation of military officials to boost mutual trust.

Zhang Zhijun and General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the People's Liberation Army's General Staff Department, met US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Under Secretary of Defense Michle Flournoy, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General James Cartwright and other US civil and military senior officials.

Hillary Clinton said in her closing remarks: "This new strategic security dialogue is a very important step forward and we think it will add immeasurably to our bilateral relationship."

"The message is clear - if China and the US can cooperate on the most sensitive and crucial areas, they can enhance their confidence in cooperating on almost all other areas," Cheng Li, director of research and senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution, told China Daily.

Human Rights

Apart from consensus, the two countries have also exchanged views on the human rights issue.

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Cui Tiankai said China would like to continue the dialogue with the US on the issue on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

Cui made the remarks at a news conference after the conclusion of the dialogue.

"China has made historic progress in promoting human rights during recent decades, which is a matter of fact," Cui said. "For anybody who hopes to know the real China, if he does not have prejudice, I think it will not be difficult to acknowledge that."

Because China and the US are at different stages of economic and social development and have different histories and cultures, it is understandable that the two countries will have different views on human rights, he said, adding that this is why communications and dialogue are needed.

Though the US has openly voiced its concerns about China's human rights, Clinton acknowledged that "the US and China have to be honest about our differences and address them firmly and forthrightly we are working together to expand the areas where we cooperate and narrow the areas where we diverge".

Wu Jiao in Beijing contributed to this story.