Interview with Chinese state councilor on President Xi's upcoming U.S. visit (II)

Q: President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama reached an agreement on climate change on the sidelines of the APEC summit last year. How much of a priority is tackling climate change for both governments? In addition, the latest breakthrough in negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue would not have been possible without effective cooperation between the U.S. government and the Chinese authorities. Do you think this kind of positive cooperation could be expanded to other areas in exercising global governance?

A: You are quite right. The joint announcement to address climate change which happened last year was well received by the international community. I think that climate change issues will be part of the agenda for the president's visit.

The important thing is for us to work together with the international community to make the Paris Conference later this year a success, and that is in the interests of the world. There is a lot that we can do together multilaterally or bilaterally. As a matter of fact, there has been a great deal of cooperation between the two countries in the clean energy field.

About the Iranian nuclear issue, I must say that the P5+1 discussion with Iran yielded good results. There is the joint comprehensive plan of actions with Iran, and of course China worked very hard with the United States and with other partners. We do hope that this agreement will have more good implications for the region as a whole.

All in all, China-U.S. cooperation on the regional and global stage can be further promoted so that we should actually take a closer look at any kind of possibility of cooperation between the two countries, to leverage our resources and to do the utmost, because if China and the United States work even closer together, there is better chance for addressing some of the urgent issues globally and regionally.

Q: Some are saying that disputes between China and the United States, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific region, are forcing some regional countries to take sides. What's your take on the actual dynamics in this bilateral relationship between Washington and Beijing?

A: Actually, it is in the Asia-Pacific area where Chinese and American interests are most closely intertwined. And it is in this area where China and the United States interact the most.

The two sides have had cooperation in many fields, some of which I've already mentioned. I believe no country needs to take sides between China and the United States because President Xi said that we are working really for the "community of interests." So if there are friends of China who would like to be friends of the United States or the other way around, both countries should welcome that, and we should have more mutual friends.

I see the China-ASEAN relationship on the way up, not only economically but politically as well.

China and the United States should work together in more areas. For instance, we are helping Afghanistan to train more diplomats, and we are also helping Timor-Leste with food security. So in various areas, we should really expand our vision and to see what can be further done not only on a bilateral basis but on a trilateral basis also.

Q: The issue of South China Sea will be high on the agenda. And whenever we discuss the bilateral relationship, human rights are always an issue. What do you think the two sides should do in the specific areas to guarantee that our relationship moves in the right direction?

A: As you know, China has a consistent policy and stance on the South China Sea, but it is also a fact that there are certain disputes regarding the sovereignty over certain islands in the South China Sea. We have adhered to the principles that these issues should be handled through friendly dialogue. As a matter of fact, China has pursued a dual-track policy, which has been supported by the overwhelming majority of ASEAN countries. That is, the parties directly concerned should handle their territorial disputes through friendly consultation and negotiation, and China and ASEAN countries together should uphold peace and stability in the region.

Let me say that the disputes are those between China and some countries in the South China Sea region. The United States is not part of these disputes, and we do hope that the United States does not get involved in these disputes as it has promised. It is important for both countries to stay in close touch even if they have different perceptions and views. China has made its views on these issues very clear. China wants to have the situation handled and ultimately resolved in a peaceful manner.

In regard to human rights, let me say that a lot of progress has been made in China. Of course, no country is perfect in their human rights record. China is ready to have more human rights dialogue with other countries, including the United States, on the basis of mutual respect.

Q: Do you think we have a mechanism to manage the dispute in the South China Sea?

A: Yes, I think that the dual-track approach is the right approach. Because at the beginning of the century, China and ASEAN countries signed a Declaration of Conduct, with all parties in the Southeast Asia, which stipulates that the parties directly concerned should handle their differences through dialogue and negotiation. So the DOC has been implemented now to benefit all sides, because it not only encompasses territorial disputes but also a lot of other things, such as maritime cooperation, search and rescue, so on and so forth.

On the other hand, China has been very active in conjunction with ASEAN countries to pursue, on the basis of consensus, a COC, Code of Conduct, and I believe that the dialogue will be able to reach that agreement.

Let me say a few words on the freedom of navigation and overflights. As a big trading nation, China pays a lot of attention to freedom of navigation and overflights, and there's no problems with regard to freedom of navigation and overflights.

Q: Do you think the frequent military-to-military exchanges between the Chinese and American governments will send a positive message to the world about our bilateral relationship and are you confident that the two militaries can manage their risks in the Asia-Pacific region?

A: You have raised a very good point. I always believe that the military-to-military relationship constitutes a very important facet of the China-U.S. relationship. The good thing is that recently we have seen continuous contacts and exchanges between the two militaries. They have had joint exercises and even in the nontraditional areas they are working together in disease control, anti-terrorism, anti-piracy and so on.

I do hope that there will be a continuous and increasing inter flow of exchanges and dialogue on activities between the two militaries. Because only by doing that can we deepen mutual trust and help to push forward our constructive role in the relationship.

Q: Each day, people in the thousands are crossing the Pacific Ocean and promoting mutual understanding. Do you think that as both sides are talking increasingly about "trust deficits," people-to-people exchanges could help compensate for this deficit? Are you confident that this will be a hallmark of the relationship?

A: I do believe so and "seeing is believing." When you go to the United States, you go to New York, Washington or LA. It would be very meaningful to experience the hustle and bustle of the cities. When you experience city life in the United States, you see how people get on energetically with their life.

This by the way is not just along the U.S. east and west coasts. I would encourage people to visit the states in between as well.

The same can be said of American visitors coming to China. They can see and feel the vibrancy of our cities. The good thing is now there are more and more grassroot contacts between our two peoples. For instance, there are about 200,000 Chinese students studying in the United States. There are about 5,000 Americans on Chinese campuses, and they invariably not only have contacts with their classmates, but with their classmates' brothers and sisters and parents and so on and so forth, through which they can gain a better and real understanding of the other country. I think it is important for a student to learn a foreign language to know a certain country better and to have at least a friend from that country. Endi