Influential leaders called for increased dialogue and enhanced collaboration between China and the United States, emphasizing that Sino-US ties — the most consequential bilateral partnership in the world — hold great significance for the entire global community.

The Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations 2024, the first international event on bilateral relations since the US presidential election, took place in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, on Friday, with closed-door discussions scheduled for Saturday. As the forum concludes, it will formulate policy proposals to be presented to the US and Chinese governments.

Themed “Reflection and Forecast”, this year’s forum brought together over 50 global leaders, including Chinese and American ambassadors, representatives of three American presidential families, Nobel Prize laureates, and leaders of influential organizations representing countries such as the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Australia, Chile, India, and Indonesia to delve into critical issues surrounding US-China relations.

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During the opening ceremony, Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to the United States, said that history shows that when China and the United States work together, they can make a big difference but if they confront one another, turbulence, division and disaster will ensue.

The two countries need to enhance dialogue at various levels in various fields, eliminating misunderstandings, expanding common interests, and fostering closer ties between the people to inject fresh impetus into their relationship, Xie said.

Xie also noted that a stable and prosperous Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is in the mutual interest of both China and the United States, and the two countries should work together to let the city shine brighter.

Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China said that over the past 45 years, the US-China relationship has evolved into the most consequential bilateral relationship in the world.

That global significance makes it absolutely critical that the two countries manage their relationship and competition responsibly and peacefully, he said.

Both countries should intensify collaborative efforts, particularly in addressing climate change, resolving commercial, economic, financial, and agricultural issues, and enhancing people-to-people ties, Burns said.

John Zhao Linghuan, chairman of the China-United States Exchange Foundation, said the dialogue between the United States and China has become more crucial than ever, especially within the first 10 days following the US presidential election, as President-elect Donald Trump has announced a series of critical cabinet appointments.

“Our goal is not only to address the challenges and complexities but also to explore the vast opportunities for collaboration,” Zhao said.

During a high-level panel discussion, Charlene Barshefsky, chair of the National Committee on US-China Relations, who played a key role in China’s accession to the World Trade Organization, said that China has undergone a remarkable transformation since joining the WTO, with the subsequent benefits extending throughout the world.

Recent global shifts have placed significant strain on the Sino-US relationship. “At present, there is nothing more important than the two countries finding a way to get back on track,” Barshefsky said.

Lu Kang, vice-minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, affirmed China’s focus on domestic development and its willingness to seek collaboration with the United States. China’s approach to the bilateral relationship, and its commitment to the existing multilateral framework has never changed, he said.

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Joseph Tsai, chairman of the Alibaba Group, said that future discussions between China and the United States should begin by addressing multilateral issues, such as global hot spots like Russia, Ukraine, Israel, and Iran, rather than immediately focusing on trade or technology restrictions.

The Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations, initiated in 2019, is an annual conference jointly organized by the China-United States Exchange Foundation, a Hong Kong-based NGO and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a Beijing-based public policy think tank.

This year’s forum encompassed an opening ceremony, high-level dialogues, and five panel discussions. It also featured special sessions dedicated to honoring former US president Jimmy Carter and the late Henry Kissinger, the former US secretary of state. Carter played a pivotal role in establishing diplomatic ties with China 45 years ago, while Kissinger was instrumental in normalizing US-China relations.