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Smart power, harmony power pull together
Source: Xinhua |
February 18, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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ADDRESSING an audience at the Asia Society on the eve of her Asian trip, which includes a visit to China on February 20-22, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated that Washington will use "smart power" to work with historic allies and emerging nations to address common global problems.
"Smart Power" is a new concept she has brought to US foreign policy. She defined it as the full range of tools - diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal and cultural - "picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation" when dealing with international issues.
In her speech on Friday, Clinton spoke at length about China-US relations, saying Washington believes it is "in our interest" to work harder to build on areas of common concerns and shared opportunities with China.
She quoted a Chinese saying that "when you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together," adding she believes this ancient Chinese wisdom must continue to guide both countries today.
The saying could also be a reflection of the "harmony" philosophy, which not only permeates Chinese culture, but also China's foreign policy.
The tradition of the "harmony" philosophy, emphasizing coordination, combination, integration and peace among different elements, can be traced back thousands of years.
Confucius (551-479 BC) expounded the philosophical concept - "a world is full of differences and contradictions, but the righteous man should balance them and achieve harmony."
The main goal of China's foreign policy is defined as "building a harmonious world," and the country is making great efforts in cooperating with other countries and maintaining world peace.
As China and the United States are important to each other and are key players in the global arena, the China-US relationship is vital to world harmony.
"Even with our differences, the United States will remain committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China, one that we believe is essential to America's future peace, progress and prosperity," Clinton said.
President Barack Obama, in his first telephone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao on January 30, said the US is willing to develop a more active bilateral relationship with China.
Despite differences, China and the US have a wide range of issues to cooperate on, such as keeping sound economic growth in the global financial crisis, maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East, and protecting the environment.
When "smart power" meets "harmony" philosophy, the world could be better if both the Chinese and US sides stick to the path of cooperation.
"Smart Power" is a new concept she has brought to US foreign policy. She defined it as the full range of tools - diplomatic, economic, military, political, legal and cultural - "picking the right tool or combination of tools for each situation" when dealing with international issues.
In her speech on Friday, Clinton spoke at length about China-US relations, saying Washington believes it is "in our interest" to work harder to build on areas of common concerns and shared opportunities with China.
She quoted a Chinese saying that "when you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together," adding she believes this ancient Chinese wisdom must continue to guide both countries today.
The saying could also be a reflection of the "harmony" philosophy, which not only permeates Chinese culture, but also China's foreign policy.
The tradition of the "harmony" philosophy, emphasizing coordination, combination, integration and peace among different elements, can be traced back thousands of years.
Confucius (551-479 BC) expounded the philosophical concept - "a world is full of differences and contradictions, but the righteous man should balance them and achieve harmony."
The main goal of China's foreign policy is defined as "building a harmonious world," and the country is making great efforts in cooperating with other countries and maintaining world peace.
As China and the United States are important to each other and are key players in the global arena, the China-US relationship is vital to world harmony.
"Even with our differences, the United States will remain committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China, one that we believe is essential to America's future peace, progress and prosperity," Clinton said.
President Barack Obama, in his first telephone conversation with Chinese President Hu Jintao on January 30, said the US is willing to develop a more active bilateral relationship with China.
Despite differences, China and the US have a wide range of issues to cooperate on, such as keeping sound economic growth in the global financial crisis, maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula, the Middle East, and protecting the environment.
When "smart power" meets "harmony" philosophy, the world could be better if both the Chinese and US sides stick to the path of cooperation.
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