Comparative Connections v.11 n.2 - U.S.-China Relations

After the completion of the first round of “get-acquainted” meetings aimed at laying the foundation for cooperation on a broad range of issues, the U.S. and China agree that the bilateral relationship is off to a good start. While there is acute awareness of the challenges, there is a shared sense that their futures are inextricably linked and that cooperation is essential to global economic prosperity and security. The quarter opened with the first meeting between Presidents Hu and Obama on the sidelines of the G20 financial summit. On separate visits to Beijing, Todd Stern, the U.S. special envoy for climate change, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi underscored the importance of combating the effects of global warming. U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner traveled to China to prepare for the first round of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. Washington sought China’s cooperation on regional security issues, including North Korea and Afghanistan-Pakistan. The Defense Consultative Talks were held in Beijing, giving a desperately needed boost to the bilateral military relationship.