China’s relations with the United States have been facing difficulties for some time now, but not due to China’s actions. And this has become a major concern for both the Chinese people and the international community.

China-US relations go far beyond the bilateral scope, so even the slightest disruption sends shockwaves to the far corners of the world.

Over the past decades, China and its neighboring regions have grown into a community of shared interests where we rise and fall together.

So, the policy of “America First” harms not only China’s interests, but also those of its neighbors who relate to China in one way or the other. And they have already felt the punch of the wrestling match between the two countries.

China and its neighboring countries share a common understanding in the need to mitigate pressure from the US.

They all understand that peace does not come easily and must be maintained, and want the cooperation to continue in trade, investment, technology, infrastructure, tourism and other areas. They also know that action must be taken to support free trade and globalization and counter economic and technological hegemonism. Our neighbors don’t want to take sides between China and the US. And they hope to minimize the hurt coming from the US policies, and more importantly maintain mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

Their position is determined by a sense of fair play and market rules, not something that one can simply impose on them. This common understanding is consistent with the general trend and endorsed by the people in the region.

A good relationship with the US is very important to China. So, there is no denying that the worsening of the ties will have a long-term effect on all fronts. That said, relations with the US are by no means all that China has, and the US benefits from the bilateral cooperation no less than China does.

As a saying goes, what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.

So, it is not the end of the world when we face difficulties and challenges, as all roads lead to Rome.

As China still has huge development potential and unlimited leeway to maneuver, its growth trajectory is simply unstoppable.

In the face of pressure from the US, China must stay committed to the policy of reform and opening-up, and the principle of mutual benefit in its collaboration with the outside world. All it needs is a strong body and a solid base.

To have a strong body, China must manage well its own affairs by taking specific steps to further push reform and opening-up. So, blueprints of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Hainan Free Port and the Yangtze River Economic Belt must be translated into action as soon as possible to keep foreign companies engaged and attract more investment from the neighborhood.

China should also firm up external exchanges and cooperation, and the neighboring region is at the heart of it.

The neighborhood is our home base. And given the circumstances, it is more important than ever for China to cement its relations with its neighbors by committing more efforts and resources into the region and strengthening result-oriented cooperation with our neighbors in all fields, step by step.

Trade is still at the core of China’s cooperation with its neighbors. So, we must make sure that trade with Japan and ROK does not come down; upgrade the China-ASEAN FTA and expand trade with Russia and Central Asian countries.

Efforts must also be made to increase two-way trade and investment with the Middle East and expand market access for farm products from Southeast Asia and South Asia. This will help maintain the trade balance for China and address key concerns of these countries.

But the top priority must go to infrastructure cooperation. Infrastructure building is one of China’s key strengths and is badly needed in our neighboring countries. Also, cooperation projects on infrastructure deliver benefits for generations and should be pushed forward step by step with well-conceived plans and a long-term view as part of our Belt and Road commitment. And they should not be affected by any ill-conceived comments.

When the decision is made, full commitment is required, as its success will serve both the local communities and economic growth and social progress of our region. Demand for infrastructure is huge among Southeast Asian countries. And cooperation potential is enormous in the Lancang-Mekong sub-region and the BIMP-EAGA.

The Russian Far East and Mongolia must be part of Northeast Asia cooperation. And Central Asia and the Gulf region hope to engage China in their infrastructure development too.

There are many resources to leverage and the prospects are great, so long as commitment is translated into successful projects on the ground.

Our performance on these projects will convince the world that the Chinese can be trusted for cooperation that brings benefits to both parties.

Enthusiasm is high among our neighboring countries in technology cooperation with China.

Recently, the Prime Minister of Malaysia commended China for its technological progress on several occasions and expressed the hope for exchanges and cooperation with China in relevant fields. His statement is highly representative. So, Chinese companies operating in our neighboring countries should focus on product and corporate competitiveness by raising the standards of their products and scaling up to the higher end of the market.

A broader vision is also required from Chinese companies for sustained development of the local communities and economic growth of the wider region. And greater efforts are needed in human resource training for our neighbors.

Such programs can have diverse forms, cover more disciplines and leverage more on the role of local authorities.

Given the lessons of the Asian financial crisis in the 1997, Asian countries must get prepared for the current uncertainties by strengthening forward-looking cooperation in the financial sector.

China played a critical role in navigating the region out of the Asian financial crisis. And despite changes in the global and regional landscape, sticking together as one community in time of difficulties remains the golden principle for the region.

Tourism plays a great role in promoting mutual understanding between our peoples in the neighborhood. And tourism is also a form of trade. As China has a large population and Chinese tourists are visiting our neighboring countries in big numbers, the numbers of tourists in the region is also on the rise.

The potential in tourism cooperation can be further unleashed as more connectivity programs come to completion. So, plans must be drawn up and conditions improved to ensure better security and services for tourists.

All in all, rolling together like passengers sharing the same boat, which has long characterized relations between China and its neighboring countries, is the right approach to achieve common prosperity and progress and an effective way to counter external pressures. We have full confidence in the essence of this relationship.

Hu Zhengyue is vice-president of China Public Diplomacy Association. Zhang Ying is dean of School of Interpreting and Translation, Beijing International Studies University.

The author contributed this article to China Watch exclusively. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of China Watch.

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