Main focus of Wednesday, July 29, 2009

New dialogue between the USA and China

The US and China would like to cooperate more closely. At the conclusion of their historic summit in Washington the two major powers on Tuesday declared their intention to stabilise the world economy, to stop climate change and to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The European press comments on the new dialogue.

Blog Le Figaro - France

In his blog for the conservative daily Le Figaro Pierre Rousselin writes: "The significance of the two-day Chinese-American meeting in Washington should not be underestimated. It closely resembles the informal G2 summit of which there has been so much talk and in which the current superpower America and the future superpower China decide the future of the world. This depiction is somewhat far-fetched because not everything can be agreed between Washington and Beijing (yet) since China and the United States are still far from being able to override everyone else. But at a time when the global crisis is shaking up the strategic balances and collective bodies like the G8, G14 and G20 … are multiplying the idea of a G2 is achieving something: While the others just talk the United States and China are negotiating serious matters in their own little circle." (28/07/2009)

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El País - Spain

"There are few clearer signs that times are changing than the dialogue between the US and China," the left-liberal daily El País writes commenting on the summit meeting that took place between the two countries in Washington. The paper concludes that the times when the US was the sole superpower will soon end: "Aware of this fact [US President Barack] Obama is calling for cooperation and emphasising common interests. And in doing so he is ignoring the disregard for human rights demonstrated by [China's] communist government. There are areas - like the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea - in which cooperation between Washington and Beijing would be very advantageous. In other areas like global warming - probably the greatest threat to the planet - it is indispensable." (29/07/2009)

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Corriere del Ticino - Switzerland

The liberal daily Corriere del Ticino believes the US and China will take a pragmatic approach to issues like climate change, the nuclear threat and terrorism: "All of these are suitable topics for developing a strategic dialogue, which is also of crucial value to China. Indeed, China, whose global influence is today still limited, sees its dialogue with America as an opportunity to upgrade its status on the world stage. But this approach to dialogue at the same time implies, at least seen from the point of view of strategic policy, ... the necessity of putting relations on an extremely pragmatic footing, so that while the two sides can respond to high-priority issues, almost everything that might be unpleasant for the new allies, is not talked about. ... In Washington [US President Barack] Obama has not concealed the continuing tensions between the two powers. ... So these tensions ... will not suddenly disappear. But the dialogue requires that any polemic ... should now be tackled in an atmosphere of closer relations." (29/07/2009)

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All available articles from » Gerardo Morina

The Irish Times - Ireland

The daily The Irish Times writes on the US-Chinese summit: "Mr Obama says the countries should be 'partners out of necessity, but also out of opportunity.' It is a good formula, depending crucially on how successfully they manage the wider agenda on climate change, nuclear proliferation and international governance – not to mention the tricky subject of human rights in China's domestic politics recently highlighted by the clashes involving the Uighur minority in Xinjiang province.There is a clear perspective from this meeting that the US and China will co-operate closely on climate change leading up to the crucial Copenhagen summit next December. There is greater mutual understanding of their economic interdependence. And they have made progress on how to broaden international governing structures to include emergent states and economies. It is a good start on a long and difficult journey." (29/07/2009)

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