Cui Tiankai: I never imagined Sino-U.S. ties will be smooth sailing

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02:19

Editor's note: This article is based on an interview with Cui Tiankai, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., by CGTN's Liu Xin.

"I never had the illusion that a comprehensive and complex relationship between China and the U.S. would always follow a straight line," said Cui Tiankai, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., during an interview with CGTN's Liu Xin.

"I always have the confidence that, in the long run, the common interests of the two peoples will prevail. I still have that confidence," said Cui.

Over the past serval months, trade frictions have undermined bilateral trade ties between the world's two biggest economies, and the arrest of Huawei's CFO in Canada at the request of the United States has cast doubt over Washington's sincerity to resolve the trade frictions.

Attempts to launch new 'Cold War' won't succeed

At the 2018 Gala Dinner of the U.S.-China Business Council earlier this month, Ambassador Cui expressed the belief that there are currently attempts to launch a so-called "new Cold War." He added that there are also attempts to start strategic rivalries between the two countries in the name of a so-called "One-Hundred-Year Marathon."

Asked if these attempts are still gaining momentum, Cui stressed that sometimes people make noises and advocate their own views, but insisted that such attempts will not succeed in the long run as they are against the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

02:32

Cui said relations between China and the United States have never been easy. However, he believed that long-term interests will dictate the future course of bilateral relations, noting that there are no other options than closer communication, coordination, and cooperation between the two sides because only these will serve the long-term interests of both countries.

"I hope people will not allow themselves to be dominated or misled by the dark side of human nature."

Overseas Chinese students: Absurd accusations are unfair to them

"Unfortunately, recently we have heard accusations against (Chinese students). Very absurd accusations that are totally unfounded and extremely unfair to them," Cui pointed out.

"People making such accusations, I guess they must have their own youth, and when they were young, they also had their aspiration of life, and today they even have their own kids, so how can people have such a dark and miserable mindset to the younger generation today? I really feel sorry for them," said Cui.

In October, the Financial Times reported that the U.S. was considering a ban on student visas for Chinese nationals, adding that "White House hawks urged Donald Trump to retaliate against Beijing meddling in U.S. politics."

Speaking about the number of overseas students, the ambassador said it is very encouraging to see a growing number of students studying in the U.S. and U.S. students coming to China, though the number of American students in China is still significantly smaller than that of Chinese students in the United States. "But I think both numbers are growing," he added.

At present, there are 360,000 Chinese students in the U.S. but only 12,000 U.S. students in China.

"These young people, they are the true ambassadors of friendship and understanding between our two peoples. They are the bridges between our two countries," said Cui.

China-U.S. cooperation on globalization will benefit everyone

In response to the views that China has benefited much more than the U.S. from globalization in terms of GDP growth, Cui said when it comes to the benefits of globalization, only focusing on GDP is a rather narrow view, adding that the U.S. still enjoys a higher per capita GDP than China.

He maintained that all countries have similar needs, deal with domestic problems and challenges, and need to make economic and social constructions.

Cui also noted that China is determined to follow the path of peaceful development, and is determined to continue its reform and opening-up. If China and the United States could work together in the process of globalization, it would yield a win-win result and benefit all countries.

Cui also expressed his New Year wishes for 2019 and beyond with a Chinese proverb: "Cut paths through mountains and build bridges across rivers, and stay the course.”

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