As China's parliament debates over a massive stimulus plan aiming at reviving the economy, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi is in Washington on his first visit to the United States since the U.S. new administration took office.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi meets domestic and overseas journalists on March 7, 2009.

Yang would discuss with the United States for a meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his U.S. counterpart Barack Obama during the April G20 summit.

As the global financial crisis continues to worsen, the meeting between leaders of two world economic giants touches the nerve of the international community.

Zhou Wenzhong, Chinese ambassador to the United States, said how to jointly cope with financial crisis has become the most pressing task of the China-U.S. relations.

"It is the top priority both to us (China) and the United States," Zhou, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told Xinhua.

Since China's opening-up and reform 30 years ago, the country, with its growing economy, has emerged from isolation and expanded its profile as an active player in the international arena.

With the financial crisis sweeps the world, China, one of the few countries which managed to keep its economy growing in 2008, seems to bear greater responsibility.

However, as its economy cooled to a seven-year low of 9 percent last year, China itself is struggling to cope with problems of slackening exports, rising unemployment and social uncertainties.

"Under the new situation, how should we make our foreign policy? This is a new task," State Councilor Dai Bingguo, also former vice foreign minister, said during the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislative body.

Cooperation & confidence

Prior to his U.S. journey, Foreign Minister Yang said the main task of China's diplomacy this year is to promote economic cooperation and trade between China and other countries.

"Economic development is the central task of China right now. The focus of our diplomatic work should be more than creating a favorable international environment for the country's economic growth, but also to directly serve the economy," Yang said at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of China's parliament.

He emphasized that cooperation is important in combating financial crisis. "Diplomacy should not be a zero-sum game, but one that strives to create win-win situations," he said.

The "win-win" approach was reflected in Chinese leaders' foreign visits to 15 nations in the beginning of this year, during which China emphasized that all countries were "in the same boat" in reviving global economic downturn.

During his visit to five African and Asian countries from Feb. 10 to 17, Chinese President Hu Jintao called on the international community to help developing countries, especially African countries, overcome difficulties. More than 20 contracts were signed between China and the five countries, covering economy, trade, investment and infrastructure construction.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao visited Europe from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2. Wen emphasized that cooperation are needed for the world to weather through economic recession. He also witnessed the signing of 38 agreements with a contract value of more than 15 billion yuan (about 2.2 billion U.S. dollars).

Following Wen's visit, Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming led a buying team to Europe and signed contracts worth 13 billion U.S. dollars.

Analysts said China has promised opposition to trade protectionism and its recent moves show that it has earnestly followed its commitments.

"The moves conveyed a clear message to the world, that is cooperation and confidence," Prof. Qin Yaqing, vice president of China's Foreign Affair University, said.

Crisis & opportunity

Over the past decades, China has begun to take a less confrontational, more sophisticated, confident and constructive approach toward regional and global affairs.

Despite its severe impacts, many believe the international financial crisis also means an opportunity for China to upgrade its economic structure and increase its influence in international affairs.

Tang Min, deputy secretary general of the China Development Research Foundation, said China has for a long time stayed outside the international economic order. The international financial crisis gave the country an opportunity to participate in the reform of the order.

"Now the prime time of investment bank has gone and the old order was proved not efficient. The need of setting up a new order is pressing. Every country seems to stand behind one jumping-off point. China will have a bigger say."

China, in fact, has expressed its hope for a "just, equitable, sound and stable" economic order.

Chinese Premier Wen said in a speech at World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in January that it is important to speed up reform of the governance structures of major international institutions, establish a sound global financial rescue mechanism, and enhance capacity in fulfilling responsibilities.

"Developing countries should have greater say and representation in international financial institutions and their role in maintaining international and regional financial stability should be brought into full play," he said.

At Saturday's press conference, Foreign Minister Yang said China hopes the April G20 summit in London would yield "positive" results in boosting confidence, strengthening coordination on macroeconomic policies, stabilizing financial markets, undertaking necessary reforms in the global financial system and regulatory regime.

Besides economics, China is also expected to be one of the key players in many other international affairs, such as the climate change conference in Copenhagen and reforms of the UN Security Council.

"China's real responsibility to the world in the future lies in the efforts to maintain global prosperity and stability and to achieve the UN millennium goals," Prof. Qin said.

Jiang Yong, a researcher with the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said China does have the opportunity to shoulder greater international responsibilities, but the opportunity does not come easily.

"How to help other developing countries, how to keep its foreign exchange rate relatively stable, how to cope with international trade protectionism... Those specific problems test the wisdom of the Chinese leadership," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)