Bush's recent visit to China is his third since acceding to the presidency of the U.S., setting a record in terms of frequency vis-à-vis visiting China as a US president. This tells a convincing tale about how much weight the China-US relations carry in the American diplomacy. The Chinese leaders also attach great importance to the boosting of stable and healthy China-US relations, and have made unceasing efforts to this end on bilateral and multilateral occasions. In the wake of the bilateral meeting with President Bush at the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of the UN, President Hu Jintao held a formal talk with President Bush in Beijing. This kind of incessant high-level dialogue and consultation has revealed the mounting importance for China and the U.S. to intensify cooperation in a host of aspects and to cope with global challenges with joint efforts under the background that the global situation has become tense and turbulent on account of the uptick non-traditional security factors such as terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The increasing steady and matured bilateral ties between China and the U.S. are partly attributable to the American fresh cognizance of the importance of the China-US relations.

　　For a period of time after the Cold War, the U.S. regarded China as a de facto "strategic challenger" who might rock its position as the only super power and, thereby, was bent on keeping a close watch on and containing China, thus leading to China-US relations haunted by troubles, setbacks and even crisis from time to time. However, the actual facts have it that the robust development and growth of China spells no threats, but opportunities, to the whole world. The U.S. too begins to approach the China-US relations pragmatically. Although the voice of "China Threat" can still be heard in the US, it is by no means the mainstream view of the US government. On the whole, the US government now regards China as a responsible power and their bilateral relation being a cooperative partnership sharing weal and woe, but not a "zero sum game".

　　Under the guidance of the positive and pragmatic policies, the Bush Administration cares about respecting and never challenging China's core interest, and keeps a prudent and moderate approach toward China. The Bush Administration has become more cautious in dealing with the Taiwan issue in which rests the heart of China's interests. It has repeatedly warned and held back Chen Shui-bian authority's risky acts of "Taiwan Independence", and has stuck to negotiation and dialogue, instead of sanctions, in searching for solutions to the China-US trade disputes, despite of the great pressure from the US Congress. These acts have contributed to safeguarding the overall situation of developing the China-US relations.

　　It is beyond any doubt that the China-US relations are still troubled by numerous obstacles and difficulties, of which the most important is that the U.S. has not entirely given up the Cold War mentality and has not fundamentally changed the strategy of keeping a watchful eye on and containing China. If the U.S. side doesn't put aside discrimination in ideology and allows some structural contradictions in the China-US ties remain, the progress of the China-US relations will not be plain sailing regardless of the positive adjustments and changes made by the Bush administration vis-a-vis its policy toward China. For this reason, China and the U.S. should increase dialogue, enhance understanding, broaden common views and deepen mutual trust.

　　By Yin Chengde

　　(Nov.21, PLA Daily)