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Image source,BBC
American and Chinese diplomats met in Alaska on Thursday local time. This is the first high-level dialogue between the two countries since Biden took power.
Beijing recently called for the resumption of relations between the two countries, calling the meeting a “high-level strategic dialogue.” But Washington said the meeting was only one time and that future contact between the two countries depends on actions more than words.
The BBC recently interviewed six young people from China and the United States to find out their views on the future of China-United States relations.
Peyton forte，23 years old, North Carolina, USA
Ford is a young progressive African American who does not see China as an enemy. She believes that the two countries should work together on climate change.
Do you see China as a rival or a potential partner?
The United States government currently treats China 100% as its opponent. Any country that threatens the United States as the strongest economy will be considered an enemy. And there are ideological differences, accusations of espionage and hackers, and discrimination against Asia-Pacific descendants. If most Americans think that (think of China as an enemy), I wouldn’t be surprised. Personally, I don’t have a strong opinion on whether China is a rival or a partner. I do not think that China or the Chinese citizens have done important things that allow me to draw a conclusion.
In what areas do you think the two countries can cooperate?
I hope that the United States and China, along with other countries, will cooperate on climate change issues such as decarbonization and renewable energy standards. There is also a fight against the epidemic and preparations for possible future epidemics. I am not very concerned about bilateral trade agreements, the global economy, etc., because I believe that other issues are more urgent.
Do you think that China has something to admire that the United States does not?
In fact, I studied Chinese for five years at the Confucius Institute in high school. I envy China’s more reasonable enforcement policies, and most of the government’s spending is spent on education and welfare, not the military. If the United States is equally willing to spend money on its own citizens rather than building its military, it may not be left that far behind in the world rankings for early childhood education.
Zeng jiajun，27 years old, Guangdong, China
Zeng Jiajun quit his job as a product manager at a famous Chinese tech company last year. He will go to the United States to study for a master’s degree in computer science this fall.
Do you see the United States as a rival or a potential partner?
I believe that the United States is China’s partner in both the short and long term. Over the years, China has imported many technologies from the United States. Although China now has more and more local innovative technologies, many large Chinese technology companies still learn from the Silicon Valley experience and learn from American technology companies in terms of organizational structure. For those Chinese companies wishing to “go abroad”, it is extremely important to maintain stable business and economic relations with the United States.
Do you think the two countriesIn what ways can we cooperate?
Energy and environmental issues. For the earth to develop sustainably, cooperation between China and the United States is imperative.
Do you think the United States has something to admire that China does not have?
The American system has strong resilience and has the self-healing function. Trump’s four years were like a stress test for America, and the United States passed it. The recent civil rights movement also shows that America is a society of constant reflection and iteration. From a personal perspective, America offers a better work-life balance. China’s tech industry is too “coiled” (caught in a low-level cycle, stagnant), working hours are long and stressful.
Gabrielle kalisz，22 years old, Illinois, USA
Kalisz is a Republican, but he voted for Biden in the 2020 election. She is very concerned about the threats China poses to the United States and the rest of the world.
Do you see China as a rival or a potential partner?
I firmly believe that China is our enemy. If the United States turns a blind eye to the actions of a communist country, it will not be able to achieve international cooperation or win friendship. China has repeatedly committed human rights abuses, broken its promises to Hong Kong, and increased tensions in the South China Sea many times, covering up and continuing a global pandemic, just to minimize political influence. China has no respect for the United States and we should also rule it in its own way.
In what areas do you think the two countries can cooperate?
Although I am very suspicious of any future cooperation with China, it would be in the interests of both parties if permanent denuclearization could be achieved in certain areas. If nuclear weapons fall into the wrong hands, like North Korea, they will pose a threat not only to the United States, but to the world as well. The United States and China must agree not to continue providing nuclear components to these regimes.
Do you think that China has something to admire that the United States does not?
The people of China and Taiwan have a great longing for freedom and opportunity. If they can reach their full potential, the world will become a better place. Although the Chinese government is neither glorious nor worthy of admiration, the Chinese people living under the oppressive regime must be respected. I hope that one day they will not have to live under such an inhuman and oppressive regime.
Zhao Xiaoou，25 years old, Shanghai, China
Zhao Xiaoou is a student and currently an intern in Shanghai. He has studied in England, Ireland and France, and said that many places he has visited during the trip have seen much in common.
Do you see the United States as a rival or a potential partner?
adversary. The negative public opinion of the peoples of the two countries towards each other has passed a critical tipping point and is unlikely to be reversed. It is often said that the Chinese-American relationship is like a marriage, but in my opinion, this marriage is unrecoverable.
Do you think the two countriesIn what ways can we cooperate?
Just as divorced couples care for their children together, China and the United States have common interests in global issues, such as the new crown epidemic and climate change.
Do you think the United States has something to admire that China does not have?
Probably not. Shanghai and San Francisco have many things in common: both places have diverse cultures and a rich material life. As a country, the United States may have a more diverse culture than China, and the pressure to follow the trend will be less.
Gabriel Montalvo，22 years old, New York State, USA
Montalvo is very active in the New York Republican youth circle. He said neither the Biden administration nor the US media have done everything possible to hold China accountable.
Do you see China as a rival or a potential partner?
I see the Chinese Communist Party as a threat. They are rebuilding the army and building an island in the South China Sea. The Chinese government’s actions towards Taiwan and its neighboring countries are becoming increasingly expansionary, which is very similar to the practices of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. As a member of the United Nations Security Council, this behavior is unacceptable.
In what areas do you think the two countries can cooperate?
I believe that the United States and China should work together to organize an exit strategy for our company. It is shameful that American companies exploit the Chinese to make products. In this period of economic recovery, we must ensure that job opportunities are returned to American workers.
Do you think that China has something to admire that the United States does not?
I admire China’s ability not to take responsibility for its actions. This is shocking. The Biden administration concealed China’s ethnic cleansing and abuse of Uighurs. The same is true for major American media. China continues to violate human rights, forced labor, uses the social credit system to infringe on citizens’ privacy, and lies about the new corona epidemic.
Liu Mengxian，27 years old, Rhode Island, USA
Mengxian Liu came to the United States from China to study nine years ago and is now a data engineer living in Rhode Island.
Do you see the United States as a rival or a potential partner?
I think the United States is more of a partner for China than a rival. I cannot represent all the Chinese people, but personally I believe that China has learned a lot from the United States. My current opinion is based on the fact that the United States does not have strong hostility towards China. If you ask me when Trump was in power, you might have a different answer.
Do you think the two countriesIn what ways can we cooperate?
China and the United States can cooperate on crises related to human survival, such as climate change. If the two energy consuming countries can reach a consensus on this, it is very important for the future of our humanity. As for the areas in which the other two countries have profound differences, I also hope to see bilateral cooperation, but this is not realistic.
Do you think the United States has something to admire that China does not have?
Cultural diversity. I think multiculturalism is America’s greatest asset. This is a melting pot that brings together many cultures from around the world. By contrast, China is more homogeneous. But I am very concerned that after Trump’s tenure, the inclusion of the United States has been seriously damaged.
