As a pivotal node in global supply chain, China plays a critical role in ensuring public safety and global economic health that has been severely disrupted with the COVID-19 outbreaks across the world. After a bruising fight, and now with encouraging signs for containment, China has begun to share its expertise and lessons learned, as well its resources with the rest of the world. China-US Focus Editor-at-Large James Chau explains.

In the final of a four-part interview with Cui Tiankai, PRC’s top diplomat in Washington, Editor-at-Large James Chau poses the question: “how do you bring two disparate sides together as China and the United States has done this week as it did monumentally four decades ago?” Hear Ambassador Cui’s response in this video and his further insights on removing biases, groundless suspicion and hostility that has strained the bilateral relationship.

Editor-at-large James Chau interviews Beijing's top diplomat in Washington—Ambassador Cui Tiankai. He reflects on his personal experiences with Henry Kissinger’s secret mission to China in 1971, Deng Xiaoping and Jimmy Carter’s White House meeting in 1979, and how these pivotal events shaped the lives of both nations. "People of my generation still have the memory of poverty years ago, that's why we cherish today's life even more," Cui said, adding that the elimination of absolute poverty is a top priority for his country.

"We should show the global community that we can work with each other on global issues." China's Ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, underlines a message of unity and inclusiveness in this interview with China-US Focus. He spoke with Editor-at-Large James Chau about improving global governance and tackling income disparity, China's 2020 goal to lift its people out of poverty, and his perspective on transitioning society towards living a better life, socially, and economically. Watch the first part of this interview with Ambassador Cui Tiankai.

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Cui Tiankai said: "This Phase One agreement is giving people better confidence not only for global economic prospects, but also for the possibility of major countries cooperating with each other on global issues." 

For the past seven years, Ambassador Cui Tiankai has led China's diplomatic mission in Washington, D.C. It was here on January 15, 2020, where the United States and China achieved a breakthrough by signing a Phase One trade agreement that shapes a new partnership for the world's two leading economies in an uncertain international landscape.

In his first interview since the signing, Ambassador Cui Tiankai spoke to James Chau, China-US Focus Editor-at-Large. He said: "This Phase One agreement is giving people better confidence not only for global economic prospects, but also for the possibility of major countries cooperating with each other on global issues."

Ambassador Cui also discusses the major threats to our peace today, from climate change to disease outbreaks, and references the normalization of US-China relations exactly 41 years ago as proof of what can be achieved together.

Transcripts as follows:

English transcripts PDF

Chinese transcripts PDF

Amidst rising U.S.-China tensions, General George Casey, the retired four-star US Army general, and Cornell professor sees a growing need to continue dialogue on how best to maintain the US-China relationship. He says that those who worry about a “modern Cold War” should know that China is not an existential threat to the US. Instead, the two countries should focus on their areas of common interest to find momentum in restabilizing the relationship. 

More in Part One: Walking in Their Shoes.

China-US Focus Editor-At-Large James Chau sits down with General George Casey Jr., the retired four-star general who served 41 years in the US Army and is currently a Cornell professor. Together, they discussed the current state of the US-China relationship, and how both countries can take steps towards deescalating tensions to ensure a peaceful future. General Casey served as the 36th Chief of Staff of the US Army and commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, and now teaches government classes at Cornell University.

In Part One of our interview with General George Casey, China-US Focus Editor-At-Large James Chau speaks with the retired four-star US Army general about the 40-year history of the US-China relationship, and what issues stand in the way of this historic alliance. Four decades in, there remain complex issues in the relationship, says General Casey. But while the US is an established world power, there is enough room for two. General Casey adds that the world only stands to gain from resolving these issues, and should strive to pave a peaceful future for generations to come. 

More in Part Two: What's at Stake.

China-US Focus Editor-At-Large James Chau sits down with General George Casey Jr., the retired four-star general who served 41 years in the US Army and is currently a Cornell professor. Together, they discussed the current state of the US-China relationship, and how both countries can take steps towards deescalating tensions to ensure a peaceful future. General Casey served as the 36th Chief of Staff of the US Army and commanding general of the multinational forces in Iraq, and now teaches government classes at Cornell University.

China-US Focus host James Chau recently sat down with Admiral Bill Owens (ret.) in Beijing for an exclusive interview during which the decorated navy veteran talked about how a turbulent world is reshaping the relationship between China and the United States, and what can be done to build “togetherness” to prevent the two powers from going down the path of conflicts and confrontation. Citing the World War II experiences in China of American war heroes Chennault and Stilwell, Owens lamented the fact that many in the United States lack an appreciation of the major global issues that requires collective international actions.