Cooperation good for both

Comment on "Desirable global trend" (China Daily, Jan 7)

Some people will surely find fault with author Wang Hui's opening statement: "Greater collaboration between the US and China would be advantageous to both and also benefit the rest of the world." But such people, be they in China or the United States, would not say so if they understood the evolving global economy.

The author says the wise choice for the US is to accept that its power is declining, and I agree that the US needs to stop blaming other countries, especially China, for its economic difficulties. The US will not do anything deliberately to stymie its economic growth. But in a matter of years China will surpass the US to become the leading economic power, just like it overtook Japan to become the world's second largest economy.

The US' military strength will decline, however, most probably because of budgetary needs and not because US citizens want Washington to cut defense spending.

Many experts from China as well as the US say both countries are interdependent, and they indeed are. But what is the degree of their mutual dependence? And since the degree of interdependence can only increase, Wang Hui's opening statement stands validated.

I also believe if it was up to the peoples of China and the US, the countries' collaboration and cooperation would deepen. Let us hope our leaders have the wisdom to hear and seriously act on peoples' hopes. I wish the best for both countries in 2013 and beyond.

Marty Brown, via e-mail

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