On the evening of January 16, 2024, the Chinese Embassy in the United States held a reception celebrating the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States and the 2024 Chinese New Year. In his remarks, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng elaborated on three inspirations from the China-U.S. relationship over the past 45 years.

Ambassador Xie said that President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden exchanged congratulatory letters on the 45th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations. The two heads of state attached great importance to the historic significance of the event, spoke highly of the achievements in China-U.S. relations over the past 45 years, and expressed readiness to continue to stabilize and develop the relationship.

Ambassador Xie said that over the past 45 years, the China-U.S. relationship has kept forging ahead amid twists and turns, to the benefit of both countries and the world. We believe there are several important inspirations:

First, for China and the United States, turning our back on each other is not an option. Dialogue and win-win cooperation should be our common goal. The China-U.S. relationship has grown into the most important bilateral relationship in the world. We are cooperating in more areas than ever, with unprecedentedly intertwined interests and far-reaching influence. China is the largest developing country, and the United States the largest developed country. Decoupling between us will not work, and will produce no winner. Both our peoples want cooperation, and our cooperation is driven by win-win outcomes.

Second, it is unrealistic for one side to try to remodel the other. Respecting each other and seeking common ground while reserving differences is the prerequisite. The fundamental reason why China and the United States managed to break the ice and come together was because the two sides showed mutual respect and found common ground. Confucius said, “A noble man seeks harmony without uniformity”. American friends also frequently talk about “agreeing to disagree”. China will not become another United States. We have no intention to challenge the United States or to unseat it, still less will we interfere with U.S. internal affairs. China is ready to be a partner and friend of the United States. Likewise, we hope the United States will also respect China’s development path and core interests, and respect the right of the Chinese people to pursue a better life.

Third, conflict and confrontation has unbearable consequences for both sides. Coexisting in peace and managing differences is the basic principle. It took another seven years after Dr. Henry Kissinger’s visit to China for our two countries to establish diplomatic relations. The crux was the Taiwan question, and the key was whether the United States would pledge to sever so-called “diplomatic relations” with Taiwan, withdraw U.S. forces from the island, and abrogate their so-called “mutual defense treaty”. It is stated in black and white in the Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations that “The United States of America recognizes the Government of the People’s Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.” “The Government of the United States of America acknowledges the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China.”

Today, The Taiwan question remains the most important, sensitive and explosive question in China-U.S. relations. Without stability across the Taiwan Strait, the China-U.S. relationship would be on shaky ground. The Taiwan region held elections a few days ago. No matter how the situation on the island may unfold, it will not change the fact that there is but one China in the world and that Taiwan is part of China; it will not change the prevailing consensus among the international community on the one-China principle; nor will it change the historical trend that China will realize reunification and Taiwan will return to its motherland. Maintaining peace and stability across the Strait serves the best interests of both China and the United States. To achieve this, the most important guardrails are the three Sino-U.S. joint communiques, and the most pressing task is to curb the “Taiwan independence” forces, which pose the fundamental menace to peace and stability in the Strait.