Illustration: Tang Tengfei/GT

The high-level dialogue between officials of China and the US is scheduled to take place in Alaska on Thursday, but trade frictions, as observers widely anticipated, may not be included during the talks. 

In fact, trade disputes that have lasted for more than two years may offer an area for cooperation and a breakthrough point for the two countries to improve their fraught ties, analysts believe.

The impending high-level dialogue shows a consensus between Beijing and Washington over the need to repair battered relations. The dialogue is a good start for starting a new phase of China-US interaction, which will also be good news for global economic recovery post-pandemic.

The confrontation between the two powers was triggered by the previous Trump administration, which led to lose-lose between the two nations. By stubbornly pursuing unilateralism and protectionism, Trump brought massive damage to US companies, farmers, its high-tech and financial sectors. 

Since President Joe Biden took office on January 20, Washington by and large has shown an intention to reverse the ill-conceived unilateral strategy, with measures such as rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization.

The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic brings substantial challenges for the new US government, from virus control to economic rebooting. If the Biden administration can get its policies back to a more rational track, it should realize that Trump's trade war with China is the least the US desires.

Promoting a cooperative partnership with China will significantly facilitate the US economy to recover from the pandemic-induced recession. From infrastructure and industrial chains to technology, the two nations can join hands and let their companies build up the pie and create more jobs. 

The skewed worry of China's economic rise is hindering US' own development. For instance, by restricting microchip exports to China, Washington stripped many American companies of their largest microchip market. 

Only cooperation is the right choice for the two countries, including the 5G technology in which Chinese companies have gained much progress. Confrontation will only lead to ruined business opportunities and less jobs on both sides. 

In the meantime, although the talks are a good start, it doesn't mean things will go smoothly afterward the meeting, as a number of disagreements remain in other areas. Since President Biden took the White House, his administration has been quarrelling with China over topics including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and so-called human rights issue in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

With Chinese economy growing fast, some politicians in the US have developed a biased mentality, fearing that the US might be surpassed by the second largest economy. However, China has been adhering to a peaceful development path. A prosperous China will create more business opportunities for all its partners, including the US. And, the two giants can join hands and pursue greater interests for both, which at the same time will benefit the rest of the world. 

To sum up, both countries need to respect each other and continue to promote cooperation and create opportunities for their peoples. China is ready to have peaceful coexistence with all its neighbors and partners and seek common development with the US too. 

The article was compiled based on an interview with Xu Hongcai, deputy director of the economic policy commission at the China Association of Policy Science. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn