Christopher Nixon Cox, grandson of US former President Richard Nixon and Founder of the Nixon Dialogue, joined James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation (CUSEF), for an expansive interview to discuss the shifting landscape of global diplomacy yesterday (May 12).
The interview comes on the eve of President Donald Trump's summit with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Mr. Cox and Mr. Chau addressed escalating political flashpoints, the role of non-governmental institutional engagement, and the critical question of leadership in a fractured global order.
Mr. Cox reflected on the importance of diplomatic cooperation from the world's two leading powers, saying, "The key to maintaining stability around the world is a strong relationship between China and the United States. That doesn't mean that China and the United States have to agree. It means that China and the United States have to understand each other and how to work around areas of disagreement."
On President Trump's upcoming visit to China, Mr. Cox said, "I have a lot of hope that there can be some big agreements that are announced coming out of this summit." He added that he sees trade and free capital flows as the most pressing issues to resolve. Mr. Chau added, "What I'm really excited about will be the picture of the two leaders with their two spouses in front of an iconic landmark like the Temple of Heaven. Because that will send a message to Americans and Chinese that their leaders saw this meeting as the most important point on their agenda to do right now — even in a world of competing attentions."
Highlighting the endurance of people-to-people ties, Mr. Chau underscored the significance of these exchanges, stating, "In an era where high-level diplomacy can be sporadic or performative, it is essential to have continuous, institutional engagement happening beneath the surface."
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