Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on Sunday, left abundant legacies of promoting positive relations between China and the United States, including advocating that uniting the two countries for peace and progress is far more important than their differences.
Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th president of the U.S. from 1977 to 1981, died at his home in Plains in the southern U.S. state of Georgia. according to a statement issued by the Carter Center.
Carter was born on Oct 1, 1924, in the southeastern U.S. state of Georgia. He held the record as the longest-lived former U.S. president, outliving his two successors, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
Following his term in office in 1981, Carter embarked on several visits to China, showcasing his enduring dedication to fostering positive relations that extended well beyond his presidency.
During his visit to China in 2014, Carter stated in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV) that while many differences may arise between the United States and China in the future, what unites them for peace and progress outweighs what sets them apart.
"We knew that China and the United States had different culture, different ancient history, different form of government, different interest. We solved the differences. So, we anticipated that in the future, there would be many differences between our two countries. But we also realized, I think accurately, that the things that bind us together for peace and progress are much more important than the things that divide us one from another. And of course, the United States has always been very deeply involved in Asia and in the Western Pacific. It's not a new thing," Carter said.
Moreover, the former U.S. president highlighted that currently, the combined influence of countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa far exceeds that of the United States.
"We understand that in the past, after the World War II was over and particularly after the Soviet Union dissipated into Russian and 12 or so other countries, that the United States became the only world power that could be called a superpower. But now we see that the combined effect for Brazil and Russia and India and China and South Africa and other countries of much more important collectively than the United States," Carter said.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter leaves lasting legacy in fostering China-U.S. relations
