China-US relations at forum in Hong Kong calls for maintaining partners' relationship

Global experts and scholars gathered at the sixth United States-China Hong Kong Forum in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Monday and Tuesday, calling for overcoming differences between the two countries and maintaining the partners' relationship.

The annual event brought together more than 350 guests from across China, the United States, Singapore, Germany, and India to discuss topics such as deepening people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Board Chair Charlene Barshefsky, a former U.S. trade representative, rebuked the decoupling between China and the United States advocated by some U.S. think tanks.

"I think to decouple the economies is, first of all, highly unrealistic, and second of all, potentially destructive of global growth, which would be counterproductive," she said.

Late former U.S. President Richard Nixon's grandson, Christopher Nixon Cox, a board member of the Richard Nixon Foundation, expressed his hope that the diplomatic wisdom his grandfather demonstrated in breaking the ice for U.S.-China relations back then can continue to contribute to the healthy development of bilateral ties today.

"It's through that focusing on mutual interest, and then working out differences that I think he could make a very big difference today in terms of making the relationship between China and the United States even better," he said.

Participants also discussed topics such as artificial intelligence, technology governance, and supply chain resilience.

"All voices should be heard, and then together form a joint force to promote the development of relations between the two countries. I think it's fine for voices to differ and opinions to vary, but there must be one consensus, that is, China and the United States should be partners," said Shen Xin, vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Themed "Circles for Peace", the sixth U.S.-China Hong Kong Forum is organized by the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), a Hong Kong-based non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting dialogue between the two countries, and co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

China-US relations at forum in Hong Kong calls for maintaining partners' relationship

As host of the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, China is committed to promoting regional cooperation and development across the Asia-Pacific, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said.

This year marks the APEC "China Year," with the theme of "Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together." China will host the 33rd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The country is holding the first first senior officials' meeting and related events in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, from Feb. 1 to 10, marking the launch of a year-long series of APEC China Year activities.

In an interview with China Media Group (CMG), Ma said China aims to set the tone for unity in the Asia-Pacific region by emphasizing free trade and practical partnerships in an increasingly uncertain world.

"The world today is beset with changes and disturbances, with turmoil continuing to mount, unilateralism and protectionism on the rise, and the international economic and trade order facing grave challenges. The Asia-Pacific region stands at a crossroads and must choose its path, while international cooperation faces a critical moment of either advancement or regression. Against this backdrop, China's role as the host of the 2026 APEC meeting carries significance that extends far beyond APEC itself, and even beyond the Asia-Pacific region," he said.

Noting the 2026 APEC "China Year" coincides with the inaugural year of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, Ma said that as the host of APEC meeting, China will play a leading role in shaping regional economic integration and advancing the development of an Asia-Pacific community. "China's economy is growing steadily, with an optimized structure and fresh momentum. It has surpassed 140 trillion yuan. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will further deepen reforms and expand opening-up. As APEC host, we will carry forward the historical initiative, lead regional economic integration, promote an Asia-Pacific Community, and create a good external environment for building a new development pattern and promoting high-quality development," said the vice foreign minister.

China to boost Asia-Pacific cooperation, development as APEC host: official