Political parties of China, US call for strengthening mutual trust, cooperation

Political parties of China and the United States have called for strengthening mutual trust and cooperation between Beijing and Washington to promote the stable development of bilateral ties and jointly deal with global challenges.

Song Tao (left), minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and Howard Dean, former chairman of the United States' Democratic National Committee, take part in the 12th China-US Political Party Leaders Dialogue, which was held via video link in Beijing on Monday. [ZOU HONG/CHINA DAILY]

The call for stronger ties was made via video link on Monday by representatives of the Communist Party of China and members of the Democratic and Republican parties of the US during the 12th China-US Political Party Leaders Dialogue. The dialogue came after President Xi Jinping talked by phone with US President Joe Biden on Friday.

Speaking at the virtual dialogue meeting, Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that both countries need to implement the important consensus reached between the two presidents in their phone conversation, strengthen dialogue and make corresponding efforts to create conditions for bilateral ties to return to the right track of stable development.

Song said that dialogues between Chinese and US political parties are conducive to enhancing the two countries' communication, understanding and mutual trust.

The CPC is willing to work with the Democratic and Republican parties, fully leverage the role of political parties in guiding the country-to-country relations and push for both countries to intensify coordination and cooperation on the basis of respecting each other's core interests and major concerns as well as properly handling their differences, in order to contribute more positive efforts to the stable development of the countries' ties, Song added.

Former chairman of the Democratic National Committee Howard Dean, who is also former governor of the state of Vermont, and Republican Carla Hills, former secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and former US trade representative, were among US participants in the dialogue.

They said that US-China ties are the most important bilateral relationship in the world, and US-China political parties' dialogue is a significant part of the bilateral ties.

They also talked about the difficulties in US-China relations but said the countries have many common interests.

The US parties' participants also stressed the need to develop multiple high-level dialogues between Washington and Beijing, enhance mutual trust and advance cooperation in order to promote the development of each, while jointly meeting global challenges.

Around 50 participants from ministries, universities, think tanks and enterprises from both countries joined in the dialogue.