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China-US relations: revive exchange programmes to cut through mistrust, analysts urge
- Start small and don’t wait for politicians at the top to improve ties, observers say
- NGOs and the media could be two areas for common ground, conference told
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China and the United States should revive exchange programmes in areas such as health or even the media rather waiting for ties to improve from the top, diplomatic analysts suggested at an online conference in the US.
Relations between the two countries have plummeted in recent years and personal bonds could go some way to repairing that relationship, they said, as Beijing and Washington wrestle over a range of issues from the South China Sea to Xinjiang and Hong Kong.
Maria Repnikova, assistant professor in global communication at Georgia State University, told the forum hosted by the Carter Centre and the Guangzhou-based Intellisia Institute, that going back to the past was not realistic.
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“It is impossible to radically transform the atmosphere of mistrust ... neither [US President Joe] Biden nor [Chinese President] Xi [Jinping] seem to be interested in that,” Repnikova said.
“That’s why in the media sphere we should start with very modest and less-politicised measures.”
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She suggested that China and the US should allow a small group of reporters to continue their work in each other’s country, and also set up joint fellowship programmes for journalists.
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