BEIJING -- China and the United States Thursday agreed that as major
stakeholders and constructive partners, the two nations can and should work
together on many issues at global, regional and bilateral levels.
During the two-day second session of the China-US Global Issues Forum in
Beijing, Chinese and US officials discussed the two nations' activities around
the world and the potential to cooperate globally on the following issues:
energy security and clean energy, public health, humanitarian assistance,
trafficking in persons, environmental conservation and sustainable development,
and aid program and international development cooperation.
The two sides agreed that China and the United States can and should work
together on the above issues and other issues on the basis of seeking common
ground while recognizing and reducing differences and promoting cooperation.
Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and US Under Secretary of
State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky led interagency
delegations to attend the meeting, with the participation of relevant bureaus
and offices of Chinese Foreign Ministry and USDepartment of State, as well as
other Chinese and U.S. agencies.
In the area of energy security and clean energy, the two sides expressed
their concern on the negative impact of soaring oil price on the world economy.
To address this problem, they discussed a range of global issues such as
international clean energy cooperation and initiatives relating to cleaner and
more efficient use of existing fuels; development of new energy technology; and
collaborating to improve access to cleaner and modern energy in poorer regions
of the world.
In the session dealing with environmental protection and natural resource
conservation, the discussion focused on ways to work together to pursue
sustainable development by stemming the illegal trade in wildlife and timber,
combating climate change and air pollution through the development of advanced
technology and clean energy, and pursuing solutions to water pollution. The
discussion also explored ways to cooperate in the Commission on Sustainable
Development, and also discussed the newly-formed Coalition Against Wildlife
Trafficking.
The humanitarian assistance and international development segments
concentrated on tools, resources, challenges, experiences in dealing with
humanitarian crisis, UN reform and aid financing mechanisms, aid effectiveness,
managing results, the governance structure for international development
cooperation, as well as possible areas for collaboration.
The session on trafficking-in-persons, focused on ways to combat this
transnational criminal activity, particularly through cooperation in regional
and multilateral forums. The importance of protection for trafficking victims,
prosecution of the traffickers, and prevention campaigns was also highlighted.
Discussion of public health issues included experiences with avian flu and
malaria; international cooperation to enhance surveillance, prevention, and
control of infectious diseases; and policy and technical tools to combat
outbreaks of disease.
The two governments agreed to continue their dialogue on these and other
issues to review progress and determine future activities.
The first session of the forum was held in 2005 in Washington. The objective
of the forum is to strengthen current cooperation between China and the United
States on global issues and to explore new avenues of joint work on a global
basis.
