As US-China tensions run hot, ex-planning official talks up benefits of hammering it out
- Enhancing direct communication with US Congress, as well as G20 members, is deemed beneficial to China’s macroeconomic management amid ‘misunderstandings’
With no expectations for a dramatic shift in China-US relations, China should strive to increase communication through official and non-official channels, according to a former official with the country’s top economic planner.
Xu Lin, once director general of the National Development and Reform Commission’s fiscal and financial affairs department, said China and the US should enhance official and civil communication to clarify misunderstandings.
China’s legislative body and its top political advisers should increase communications with the US House of Representatives and Senate, he said during an online conference on Thursday.
“Both the Senate and House of Representatives play a major role in formulating policies towards China,” he said. “Enhancing talk between these bodies may help clear up some misunderstandings and reduce their unfavourable legislation and policies towards China.
“China also needs to increase civil interaction with the US. This can help create a good climate, since civil attitudes also influence US political policy.”
And it is not just the US with whom China should strive to improve communication mechanisms, he said, as enhancing them with other major economies, as well as the G20, “would also be beneficial for [China’s] domestic macroeconomic management”.