Hong Kong is uniquely placed to enrich Sino-US relations
Tung Chee-hwa says Sino-US relations benefit from having intermediaries that understand the values and cultures of both, a role that some individuals - and Hong Kong - play well
Born in Shanghai, brought up in Hong Kong, and then having spent nine years of my life in the United States, I have always viewed myself as a product of both worlds. While I live and breathe Chinese values, cultures, traditions and am proud of being Chinese, I appreciate American values such as openness, its innovation and competitive nature, and the enormous dynamism that has resulted. I have always sought to help improve the US-China relationship.
Since the resumption of diplomatic relations in 1979, the relationship has been moving forward positively, despite occasional ups and downs. Indeed, today, this relationship is the most important bilateral relationship in the world.
The China-United States Exchange Foundation believes understanding and trust are the cornerstones of success for this relationship. Our programmes serve as a critical bridge for the two countries, by facilitating open and constructive exchanges between policymakers, business leaders, academics, think tanks, cultural figures and educators from the US and China.
In the almost seven years since its establishment, the foundation has become recognised both in Beijing and Washington for its effective promotion of Sino-US relations.
We have over 20 ongoing initiatives in four separate areas.
The first area is in education. We support student exchanges between China and the US, ranging from high school students to college undergraduates and postgraduate students. We also sponsor exchanges of scholars.
Second, we conduct exchange programmes that involve members of the national legislatures of both countries. We also organise visits every year for journalists from across the United States to visit China. We invite US state-level officials and legislators to visit China.
Third, we provide focused dialogue and study programmes, bringing together elites of both countries. For example, we are supporting an annual dialogue between senior representatives of the Chinese Communist Party and senior representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties in the US. The first of these exchanges, in April 2010 in Beijing, was a historic moment because both sides had never formally met before.
Another example is the annual Sanya Initiative, which brings together retired senior military officials from both countries. When they met in Sanya , Hainan Island , for the first time in February 2008, it was also a historic occasion.
Fourth, we undertake important and exciting research programmes. First was a study undertaken at the beginning of 2012 to examine the prospects for Sino-US economic cooperation. This was a major study, with partners from Washington and Beijing, exploring how increased economic interdependence could lead to deeper engagement and mutual benefit in all spheres of the relationship. Indeed, the study called for the two countries to work together in such areas as climate change, establishing a treaty on investment, liberalisation of visa regimes, etc.
The second study, undertaken by our partners, the Atlantic Council of the United States, and the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, was based on separate studies carried out by the National Intelligence Council in the US, and Peking University. Those studies examined major global trends that may be prevailing by 2030, and how these may affect the US and China respectively. The conclusion was that, if the two countries work together, both stand a much better chance of success than working alone.
Third is a study with our partners, the Centre for American Progress in Washington and the Shanghai Institute of International Studies in China, on the subject of what a new major power relationship between the US and China can mean for the people of both countries, and how this relationship can be moved forward.
We also supported a research effort by the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington to promote a free trade agreement between the US and China.
Each of these was undertaken to provide well-researched logic as to why the US and China need to develop a new major power relationship, as articulated at the end of the Sunnylands meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama in California, in June 2013.
The fact is, in every initiative we undertake at the foundation, we start with the premise that they should have a positive short- or long-term impact on US-China relations, and, most importantly, the emphasis is on the quality of the work, and also on the importance of achieving pre-defined objectives.
When I first set out to establish the foundation, I realised there were no foreign policy specialists in Hong Kong that understood China's foreign policy, or America's foreign policy, let alone the foreign relationship between US and China.
The reason we've been able to do what we set out to do is that, in Hong Kong, there are hundreds of thousands of people, like myself, who have spent time overseas, or have strong contacts with friends and relatives overseas. We have a deep understanding of other countries' histories, cultures, politics, as well as trade and commerce. To me, it has been a great source of satisfaction that I have been able to rally the support of many of them who understand the United States here in Hong Kong.
Improving Sino-US relations is not only good for the United States and China, but also serves the long-term interests of Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has such a unique advantage. Not only can it act as a bridge between China and the US, but also as a bridge between China and the world at large. As our country continues its peaceful rise, we have the unique ability to explain to international audiences about China's culture, values, history and how it is pursuing its national objectives or realising its national dreams through the pursuit of peace and prosperity all around the world.
If properly organised, there is plenty of positive energy and creative thinking here in Hong Kong. The foundation's work is a good example. In Hong Kong, we can do many better things. While recognising the many achievements we have made in the past, we should also recognise the many new challenges facing us, the income inequality of our society, the lack of upward mobility of our youth, the affordability of housing, and, of course, the constitutional reform which is before us.
Instead of spending our energy negatively, we should be spending it positively. We should be sitting down talking through the differences, we should be uniting together, we should be able to find solutions which are acceptable to most of us, and which is in the common interest of Hong Kong in the long term.
The fact is we have competence, we have the financial strength, and we have the dynamic economy on the mainland supporting us. We can make Hong Kong achieve much, much more. So let us roll up our sleeves in a positive way.
