12 BEIJING REVIEW APRIL 20, 2017 http://www.bjreview.com

Chinese and U.S. presidentsí meetings in Florida

chart future bilateral ties By Shen Dingli

A FOUNDATION

FOR TRUST

COVER STORY

C

hina and the United States are two ma-
jor countries with global influence, and
the importance of their relationship is
self-evident. After Donald Trump was sworn
in as American president, the United Statesí
relationship with China became a subject of
speculation. With Trump scrapping a number
of major policies adopted by his predecessor
Barack Obama, it seemed as though Trump was
trying to demolish Obamaís legacy. This created
much uncertainty about what the Trump ad-
ministration would do in the future.
With regard to Sino-U.S. relations,
described by many as the most important bi-
lateral relationship in the world today, some
analysts fear a future trade war between
China and the United States as Trump made
many inflammatory remarks during his
presidential campaign. But many remain op-
timistic about the bilateral relations because
they believe that the ties are so important
that neither side would like to see them fail.
Chinese President Xi Jinpingís meetings
with Trump at the Spanish-style Mar-a-Lago
resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on April 6 and 7
have helped strengthen bilateral concord.
Though no major deals were struck, the face-
to-face talks between the two presidents in
Trumpís ìSouthern White Houseî laid the

foundation for a sound working relationship

and personal trust.

Comprehensive talks

The meetings indicate that both sides are willing

to advance dialogue, promote the development

of bilateral ties, and seek cooperation in bilateral,

regional and world affairs.

Over the past 17 years, every American

president, from George W. Bush to Obama,

worked to build mechanisms for better com-

munication with China. Trump is also doing that.

The idea of the Senior Dialogueóa regu-

lar, strategic, high-level consultation between

China and the U.S.ówas conceived in 2004

and the first meeting, called the China-U.S.

Strategic Dialogue by China and U.S.-China

Senior Dialogue by the U.S., was held in

Beijing in 2005. When Obama came into the

White House, he continued the dialogue and

developed it in a pragmatic way. Very im-

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ìstrategic dialogueî that Bush had declined

on the grounds that strategic dialogue could

be used only between the United States and

its allies.

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and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) was held in

Washington, D.C. in July 2009 and the two

governments conducted altogether eight

rounds of S&ED during Obamaís presidency.

The China-U.S. high-level dialogues will

continue during Trumpís term although

their forms might change. During Xiís Florida

visit, the two governments announced a

four-pronged dialogue mechanism. S&ED

has now been replaced by a new compre-

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hensive dialogue with four pillars: diplomatic

and security dialogue, comprehensive eco-

nomic dialogue, law enforcement and

cybersecurity dialogue, and social and cul-

tural issues dialogue.

The framework of the talks and consulta-

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which is part of the important outcomes of

Xiís visit.

Achieving the four newly announced

The author is deputy

dean at the Institute of

International Studies

under Fudan University

in Shanghai