A broad vision needed for Sino-US ties

I arrived in Kuala Lumpur with a mission to cover the latest round of China-United States economic and trade talks — the fifth since May — on Saturday and Sunday.

In a city known more for its tropical ease than for high-stakes diplomacy, few residents or tourists seemed to realize that officials from the world's two largest economies were meeting behind closed doors in a downtown conference room.

For those who did catch the headlines, the sentiment was simple: they hoped the talks would steady relations and bring some predictability back to global trade and international markets.

"What I don't want is people having false expectations or panicking because of the talks — that's usually what shakes the economy in a bad way," said a Malaysian businessman.

A couple working in finance expressed frustration over the random levying of tariffs and the volatility it has brought to global markets. "Everybody prefers predictability over unpredictability," they said.

Before any official statement was released, I could only guess the mood inside the room from the beaming smiles of the Chinese negotiators as they emerged after more than five hours of discussions on the first day. There was an air of composure — even quiet confidence — evident.

The talks came just two days after China's top policymakers concluded a key meeting that charted the nation's development blueprint for the next five years. "China must be ready to withstand high winds, choppy waters and even dangerous storms," read the Communique of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. It also urged officials to be both courageous and adept in handling challenges, while "focusing on strengths to manage the nation's own affairs well."

That long-term vision — strategic, self-assured, and rooted in planning — seemed to underpin the posture of the Chinese delegation in Kuala Lumpur.

Outside, the Malaysian capital pulsed with its usual energy: steaming food stalls by the roadside, tourists taking selfies beneath the Petronas Towers, Grab drivers weaving through the evening traffic. The city — also about to host an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and a slew of related meetings — felt alive, but not very bothered about the diplomacy unfolding within it.

Yet the venue itself carried quiet symbolism. The talks took place at Merdeka 118, the world's second-tallest building, its spire piercing the clouds above the capital.

Chinese leaders often speak of "scaling heights to gain a broader view." Here, in a city balanced between two powers, that metaphor felt almost literal.

As the most important bilateral relationship in the world, China-US relations bear directly on the well-being of the peoples of both nations and the stability of the global economy, including countries such as Malaysia.

Developing this relationship requires a broad and strategic vision.

As expectations build for the two major economies to stabilize their ties, the positive results from Sunday are an indicator that both sides are aware that only by meeting halfway with a broader horizon can they steer their trade and economic relations back onto a steadier course.

Contact the writer at xuwei@chinadaily.com.cn