Henry Kissinger: China-US Relationship the Key Single Element for International Stability

One of the world's most famous living diplomats¹ is now suggesting that the speed in which both China and the United States approach diplomacy² is one of the things holding up stronger ties between the two countries.

From Washington, CRI correspondent Wang Shanshan has more.

 
Speaking to the Global China Summit organized by the Washington Post, Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says Washington and Beijing now understand each other better than they once did.

However, he says a difference in the broader mindset is still a challenge.

"The American approach is usually pragmatic, relatively³ short term, focuses on specific problems. The Chinese approach is strategic, global and long-term. So sometimes it's not easy to establish communication. "

Calling the bilateral⁴ relationship the "key single element of international stability," Kissinger says with no historical precedent⁵, the two countries also have to deal with each other at a time when they face their own increasing domestic challenges.

"The real difficulty and the real challenge is to deal with two contrary fears. The Chinese are afraid or concerned with containment⁶ by the US. The American concern is not to commit one country to dominate all of Asia. If we have an adversary⁷ relationship, both of these nightmares are going to collide with each other. If we have a cooperative relationship, the nations of Asia do not have to choose between China and the US."

The Nobel Prize Laureate is calling on both countries to avoid potential conflicts in a bid not to confuse the world.

"China and the United States, we can not tell the rest of the world what they should do. But the rest of the world will find it hard if they are confronted with conflicts between China and the US. And we have to recognize that both China and the US have to make significant effort. It's not something either country can do by itself. "

This year is the 40th anniversary of Henry Kissinger's secret visit to China, which eventually paved the way for then-President Richard Nixon to travel to China to begin the process of normalizing ties between the two countries.

For CRI, this is Wang Shanshan in Washington.

1 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 diplomacy   

n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕

参考例句：

• The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
• This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

5 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

6 containment   

n.阻止，遏制；容量

参考例句：

• Your list might include such things as cost containment,quality,or customer satisfaction.你的清单上应列有诸如成本控制、产品质量、客户满意程度等内容。
• Insularity and self-containment,it is argued,go hand in hand.他们争论说，心胸狭窄和自我封闭是并存的。

7 adversary   

adj.敌手，对手

参考例句：

• He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。
• They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。