Intensive high-level contacts warm up Obama's China visit

• Source: Xinhua
• [11:46 October 30 2009]
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It was also noteworthy that US Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg proposed a new term to describe US-China relations in his keynote address entitled "Administration's Vision of the US-China Relationship" at the Center for a New American Security in Washington on Sept. 24.

"Strategic reassurance", as Steinberg noted, means that "just as we and our allies must make clear that we are prepared to welcome China's 'arrival'...China must reassure the rest of the world that its development and growing global role will not come at the expense of security and well-being of others."

This term captured the crux of Sino-US ties, said Niu Xinchun, vice director of the Center for American Studies at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations. "It is aimed at realizing the strategic mutual trust between the two countries."

The foundation for the sustained and stable development of bilateral ties lies in mutual trust, he said, but trade frictions between the two nations show that mutual trust still needs to be strengthened.

Obama announced in September to impose 35 percent punitive tariffs on all car and light truck tires from China for three years.

Just on Tuesday, the US Department of Commerce announced preliminary determination that intended to impose a tariff up to 12 percent on the steel grafting and steel strand imported from China, valued 269 million US dollars.

In addition, China and the United States still have differences on some issues concerning China's core interests, such as US arms sales to Taiwan and Tibet-related issues.

Although both sides have the willingness to enhance mutual trust, it is still difficult for them to fulfill the goal, said Fu Mengzi, adding it needs sustained efforts from both sides.

"Sino-US relations are now standing at a new historical starting point," said Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan at the opening ceremony of the 20th JCCT meeting. "President Obama's first China visit will surely provide new opportunities for bilateral cooperation."