China, US aim to tackle thorny issues

Analysts note readiness for effective discussion at Washington dialogues

As two sets of intensive annual China-US dialogues approach next week in Washington, senior Chinese officials and observers have noted a strong readiness from both sides to "effectively communicate" on the major issues.

The seventh China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the sixth China-US High-level Consultation on People-to-People and Cultural Exchanges will both be held in Washington on June 23 and 24, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Friday.

The events come three months ahead of President Xi Jinping's expected first state visit to the US in September.

Climate change, entrepreneurship, sea protection and expanded exchanges of talent are likely to be the highlighted points, according to senior officials and experts at the Lanting Forum, held on Friday by the Foreign Ministry's Public Diplomacy Office.

At the dialogue, Vice-Premier Wang Yang and State Councilor Yang Jiechi, as President Xi Jinping's special representatives, will meet with Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, President Barack Obama's special representatives.

Zheng Zeguang, assistant foreign minister, said the strategic discussions will "deepen pragmatic cooperation and properly tackle divergences".

A special meeting regarding climate, a round-table gathering of entrepreneurs, and a special meeting on protecting the oceans are on the Strategic and Economic Dialogue agenda, according to Zheng.

Zhu Guangyao, vice-minister of finance, said the economic discussions will touch upon economic policies, trade and investment, and the stability and reform of the financial market. "Macro-policies coordination will be prioritized" this time, he said.

The core mission of the economic dialogue is to "set to tone for the September China-US leaders meeting" by refining and preparing the outcomes of the visit, Zhu said.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of China Institute of International Studies, noted that both sides will have long lists of talking points for the dialogue this year, showing "the strong desire of both to tackle problems and manage emerging issues".

Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China in Beijing, observed that "the two governments will be coolheaded, on the whole" as the events are carefully prepared.

Liu Limin, vice-minister of education, said that China will announce a plan for expanded exchanges of talents.

It will invite 100 US youth leaders to visit and study in China in the coming five years, 1000 outstanding students from either side will be exchanged to leading colleges on the other side, and 10,000 Chinese students will be sent by China to study in the US, he added.

Yuan Peng, vice-president of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, observed that "all the institutionalized bilateral interactions are undertaken with high-frequency and great depth", such as Central Military Commission Vice-Chairman Fan Changlong's US visit this month.

High-level interaction and crisis management should be further promoted, and even "about those areas in which cooperation cannot now be achieved, we can at least communicate first", Yuan said.

Contact the writers at zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn