SEOUL, September 17 (AJP) - At the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum (BXF) on Friday, Lieutenant General He Lei, former vice president of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Military Sciences, emphasized the need for China and the United States to improve risk management, particularly concerning China's core interests. He emphasized that this is crucial for the two nations to advance towards peaceful coexistence.
Speaking at the special session "The Right Way for China and the U.S. to Get Along," the lieutenant general highlighted the global significance of China-U.S. relations, noting that their interactions will shape the future of humanity and Earth's development. He acknowledged that while the China-U.S. summit in San Francisco last November initiated a period of stabilization in bilateral relations, maintaining and improving this stability will be challenging.
Lt. Gen. He stressed the importance of strategic understanding between the two countries. He expressed China's desire for a partnership based on cooperation and mutual benefit, rather than one characterized by strategic rivalry or adversarial relations. He used a metaphor to illustrate his point, suggesting that any competition should be fair and just, "like a race where each runs on their own track," rather than one involving sabotage or attempts to "knock the other down."
Addressing the interdependence between China and the U.S. in the globalized era, Lt. Gen. He acknowledged that differences in social systems, cultures, development paths, and national strategies have led to disagreements. He warned that without effective management, these differences could escalate into risks, conflicts, or even war.
The lieutenant general emphasized that risk management is multifaceted, with the most critical aspect being the effective handling of risks related to China's core interests, such as the Taiwan question and issues in the South and East China Seas. He asserted that respecting China's core interests is fundamental to maintaining positive China-U.S. relations.
Lt. Gen. He's speech was part of the opening ceremony of the BXF, underlining the forum's role in facilitating dialogue on crucial international security issues.
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