To get China-U.S. relations back to the right track "requires both sides to take courage, demonstrate foresight and stand on the right side of the history to make the right decision," said Consul General Zhang Ping Wednesday, March 17, stressing that China and the U.S. need to work together to prevent the bilateral relationship from falling into the trap of conflict.

Zhang made the remarks when he delivered an online keynote speech entitled A New Year, A New Vision: China & U.S. Relations at the President's Lecture Series of San Diego State University (SDSU) hosted in conjunction with the Charles W. Hostler Institute on World Affairs of SDSU Fowler College of Business.

Zhang was welcomed by Dr. Adela de la Torre, President of SDSU and Dr. Bruce Reinig, Interim Dean of SDSU Fowler College of Business. About 200 SDSU faculty and students attended the virtual event.

In his speech, Zhang noted that while COVID-19 was encroaching upon the human health, the "political virus" was fanatically eroding the hard-won achievements of China-US relations, making last year the most challenging year for China-U.S. relations.

As the China-U.S. relationship came up to a new crossroad in the new year, "we hope the relationship could be repaired and improved and go back to a predictable and constructive track of development, " Zhang said, adding that the two countries could build a model of interaction that focuses on peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation.

Zhang made four points to illustrate the need to manage the China-U.S. relationship properly.

"We need to have a correct understanding of each other's strategic intentions, prevent strategic miscalculation and avoid conflict or confrontation."

Stressing that China sticks to the path of peaceful development and is willing to work with the the U.S. to promote bilateral relations in the spirit of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Zhang affirmed that China will stand firm to defend its sovereignty, security and development interests.

"We need to have a correct understanding of competition, rejecting the Cold-War mindset and zero-sum game mentality, manage the differences properly and build a mutually beneficial relationship of win-win cooperation."

"China and the U.S. may have competition, but do not have to be adversaries." Zhang expressed the hope that the two countries work together to address some of the urgent issues like Covid response, economic recovery, climate change, as well as international and regional hotspot issues.

"We need to discard ideological prejudice and uphold the principles of mutual respect and non-interference and properly handle those sensitive issues in the bilateral relations."

Emphasizing China's consistent policy of not interfering in other countries' internal affairs, Zhang called on the U.S. side to respect China's core interests, national dignity, and rights to development, urging the U.S to handle the issues that involve China's sovereignty and territorial integrity such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Tibet with caution.

"We need to strengthen sub-national cooperation and people to people exchanges, and build up public support for friendship and cooperation."

Zhang commended China-U.S. sub-national cooperation and people-to-people exchanges that have constituted an important part of bilateral relations, hoping that the U.S. side will remove the stumbling blocks to bilateral exchanges and cooperation, and not create new obstacles.

"We have every reason to believe no matter what challenges the bilateral relations may come across, so long as we have the support of our two peoples, the China-U.S. relationship will have a bright future," said Zhang.