Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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January 13, 2009

US, Chinese Dignitaries Celebrate 30 Years of Diplomacy
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=218CCCB:A6F02AD83191E1604AE479D49D6308E8A13B8D4F2090AB2B&
 
Former US President Jimmy Carter and former national security advisers
Henry Kissinger, Brent Scowcroft, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who witnessed the
historical events 30 years ago, are in Beijing 
A host of American dignitaries joined with their Chinese counterparts in
Beijing for a high-level meeting to mark this year's 30th anniversary of
Sino-American ties. The two-day session ended Tuesday, as leaders and
former leaders on both sides agreed on the need to continue
strengthening what many speakers called the most important bilateral
relationship in the world. For followers of modern U.S.-China history,
the gathering was a star-studded event. Jimmy Carter, who was president
when Washington normalized relations with China in 1979, was among those
gathered. The American political luminaries included former National
Security advisers Henry Kissinger, Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew
Brzezinski. Henry Kissinger, speaking to journalists in Beijing, 13 Jan
2009Kissinger went on an ice-breaking trip to China in 1971, at a time
when Washington and Beijing were estranged. He says the absence of broad
ties allowed then-President Nixon to focus on the fundamentals of a
long-term relationship in his meeting with Chinese leader Mao Zedong in
Beijing in 1972."When we met, when Nixon met Mao and I met [then Chinese
Premier] Zhou Enlai, there were no urgent, day to day problems. There
were only big, strategic problems," he said. The biggest Sino-American
issue at the time was Taiwan. The Nationalist Chinese government fled to
the island in 1949, after losing a civil war to the Communists.
Washington recognized the Taipei government as representing all of
China. To normalize relations with China, Washington switched diplomatic
recognition to Beijing. In this Feb 21, 1972 file photo, U.S. President
Richard Nixon shakes hands with Chinese Communist party leader Chairman
Mao Zedong during Nixon's groundbreaking trip to China China has
considered and still considers Taiwan a part of Chinese territory.
Beijing has vowed to use force, if necessary, to keep the island from
declaring independence. Brzezinski, who was President Carter's national
security adviser, says the Taiwan issue is no longer a sharp thorn in
the bi
lateral relationship."The better the American-Chinese relationship, the
less salient is the Taiwan issue, and the easier it is for Taiwan and
the mainland to establish an increasingly organic relationship," he
said. The former American officials were treated as political
celebrities. Television news programs featured footage of Chinese
President Hu Jintao meeting them Monday at the Great Hall of the People.
Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, with former U.S. Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger, left, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, center, in
Beijing, 12 Jan 2009President Hu says all the guests are "old friends of
China." He says they all witnessed the establishment of diplomatic ties
between the two countries and played an important role in promoting the
establishment of Sino-American ties. President Carter told President Hu
he is impressed with what he describes as the "great changes" that have
occurred within China, and in Sino-American relations, in the last three
decades."The relationship between China and the United States has now
developed into the most significant diplomatic relationship in the
world," said Mr. Carter. He says, before coming to China, he talked with
American President-elect Barack Obama, who takes office January 20. He
extended Mr. Obama's personal greetings and commitment to continue the
partnership in a spirit of mutual respect.

 


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