Recently addressing a panel on Sino-US relations at an economic development forum in Sanya, Hainan, the
former deputy chief of Party History Research Centre, Zhang Baijia stressed the need for China to balance
opening up and safeguarding national interests. He said the US is capable of strongly overcoming all
challenges and China should not bet against it. Zhang Bajia said “The US’ role as a global leader is declining
but, from historical experience, the US is also a country with a strong capacity for self-regulation. So, it needs
to be seen whether there will be an adjustment in the United States in the future.” He added “It is important
that we do not pin the hopes for our development on the inability of the United States to solve its own
problems.” As the world’s No 2 economy, China’s policy decisions could have a huge impact on economies
big and small, as well as every element in global supply chains, Zhang pointed out, saying Beijing needed to
make its goals, intentions, and policies clearer when dealing with other nations.
(Comment: 73-year old Zhang Baijian is the son of Zhang Wenjin, a former Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister
who took part in premier Zhou Enlai’s talks with Henry Kissinger during the top US diplomat’s secret visit
to China in 1971, which paved the way to normalised relations between Beijing and Washington.)
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