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Forum explores ties between China, U.S. |
September 08, 2009 |
Politicians, scholars and journalists specializing in issues related to China gathered yesterday for the 12th annual J-Global Forum at Shilla Hotel, central Seoul, to discuss relations between China and the United States.
Kim Young-hie, editor-at-large at the JoongAng Ilbo, a sister paper of the JoongAng Daily, moderated the forum, which was divided into three sessions, each with different topics. The overall theme was ¡°The 60th Founding Anniversary of China: What¡¯s the next step for China?¡±
The first keynote speaker, Eni F.H. Faleomavaega, stressed strategic cooperation between China and the United States. He attended the forum last year as chairman of the Foreign Affairs¡¯ Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment in the U.S. House of Representatives.
¡°Despite our ideological differences, [the] two countries should overcome global challenges through dialogue and cooperation and realize world peace as well as prosperity,¡± said Faleomavaega.
He said the direct involvement of Washington and Beijing was necessary for most international issues, from the global economic slowdown to climate change and the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea and instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
During the Q&A at the end of the first session, Martin Fackler, Tokyo correspondent of The New York Times, said, ¡°Since other Asian countries are concerned about China¡¯s suspected militaristic development, China needs to find ways to mitigate such concerns.¡± In the second session, some experts said people should not overestimate the rise of China.
¡°China has neither the intention nor the capability to replace the U.S. in the world at this moment or in the near future,¡± said Yan Xuetong, director of the Institute of International Studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing. ¡°At a functional level, bilateral ties will improve in terms of climate change, counter-terrorism, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the campaign against cross-border crimes. But relations between Washington and Beijing can hardly get substantial improvements at the strategic level, namely politics and the military.¡±
David Pilling, Asia editor for the Financial Times, said it was too early to tell if China is developing by freeing itself from the influence of the United States and Europe.
The forum was co-hosted by JoongAng Ilbo and Yumin Cultural Foundation, a nonprofit. The event was first held in 1996 as the Asia Press Forum.
By Lee Min-yong | |
