Getting to grips with problems

China and the US should try to control and narrow differences on specific issues to advance bilateral relations

The fifth China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held in Washington D.C. on July 10 and 11, centering on the consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Barack Obama, at their summit in Sunnylands, California, in June that the two countries seek to build a new type of relationship between major powers. The talks have achieved tangible results and are an important step forward toward building greater trust between the two countries.

Special representatives Vice-Premier Wang Yang and US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew co-chaired the Economic Track talks and State Councilor Yang Jiechi and US Secretary of State John Kerry co-chaired the Strategic Track talks. Both teams spoke highly of the S&ED platform and agreed to further improve the mechanism. Hotlines between the special representatives will be established to facilitate communication.