Obama vows to boost Sino-US relations, says Carter

US president-elect Barack Obama yesterday reiterated that he would continue to develop ties with China.

Former US president Jimmy Carter, in Beijing to attend events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, conveyed Obama's message to President Hu Jintao when they met in the Great Hall of the People yesterday.

Obama asked Carter to extend his personal greetings to Hu and his commitment to the partnership of 30 years when the former president informed him of his visit to China.

Hu called Obama over the phone on November 9 and congratulated him on his victory in the US presidential election.

Thanking Hu for the gesture, Obama told him China's development and success and US interests were related. Obama also hoped the US and China would strengthen cooperation and develop bilateral relations further.

At yesterday's meeting, Hu called Carter "an old friend of China". He said: "You played an important role in establishing China-US diplomatic ties and witnessed that historic decision."

"Ping-pong diplomacy" melted the ice between the two countries, after which US president Richard Nixon paid a groundbreaking visit to China in 1972. Finally, the two countries established diplomatic ties on January 1, 1979.

The US delegation now visiting China to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that historic event include key figures that helped forge the ties, such as former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger, former national security advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, and some former US ambassadors.

Hu told Carter: "For a long time, irrespective of whether you were in office or had retired, you have made great efforts to build the friendship between the two countries and develop ties. I highly appreciate those efforts."

Carter said: "For all American citizens, particularly for these leaders, this is a wonderful occasion to celebrate."

Developing a constructive partnership is in the fundamental interest of the two countries, Hu said. They should increase exchanges, deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation and promote durable bilateral ties.

"As the biggest developing nation and the biggest developed nation, China and the US shoulder the common responsibility of world peace and development… The importance and impact of China-US ties go beyond bilateral relations," Hu said.

Expressing his wonder at the rapid change in China, Carter said: "All of us including Deng Xiaoping ... would have been amazed 30 years ago at the great changes that have taken place not only in your own country, but in the relationship between our two nations."

Vice-President Xi Jinping hosted a banquet last night to welcome the US delegation.

Xi said the two countries should abide by the three Sino-US joint communiques and respect each other's core interests.

Carter responded that the Sino-US relationship "is the most important diplomatic relationship in the world today".

The 84-year-old Carter's relationship with China began 60 years ago - on October 1, 1949, to be precise - the day the People's Republic of China was founded. Carter visited China as a submarine officer on that day, when he turned 25.

"Deng Xiaoping thought fate had brought me to the Chinese people and I thought the same way," he said earlier at a seminar to mark the 30th anniversary.

In 1978, Carter decided to normalize ties with China and "bring about this enormous change", even though he was still president-elect and had not stepped into the White House.

After assuming the US presidency in January 1979, Carter invited Deng to visit the US. "To my surprise, he accepted and said 'I'll be there in two weeks'."

Deng reached the US on January 28. "One of the most unforgettable events was on the stage at the Kennedy Center, when Deng Xiaoping appeared along with little American children who had learned his favorite songs, and they sang these songs in Chinese," Carter said. "And as he kissed the little children, including my 9-year-old daughter, many people in the audience wept… It was one of those glorious events that no one would ever forget."

That was a "very great turning point" in his personal life and in the life of Americans and Chinese, he said.

This is Carter's eighth visit after leaving the White House. Before departing for Beijing this time, he said establishing diplomatic ties with China was the "wisest" decision he had ever made.

Questions:

1. Name two key US figures who helped forge Sino-US ties.

2. When did Carter first come to China?

3. What does Carter name as a “very great turning point” in his personal life and in the life of Americans and Chinese?

Answers:

1. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former US President Jimmy Carter, and former national security advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zibigniew Brzezinski.

2. October 1, 1949.

3. When American children sang Deng Xiaoping’s favorite songs in Chinese at the Kennedy Center and he kissed the children.