US-China cooperation on Middle East should be constructive

On Aug. 14, the first-round U.S.-China Dialogue on Middle East was held in Beijing. It will discuss how the Middle East situation will develop and how the two countries should strengthen their cooperation on regional and global challenges.

The United States and China are rarely seen to discuss the Middle East issue together. After the Cold War, the United States always regard the Middle East as its exclusive domain so it does not want other countries, especially China, to step in. Although China regards the Middle East as “a greater surrounding area,” the Middle East is not at a front position on China's diplomatic agenda. Obviously, this China-U.S. dialogue is a new thing.

According to reports, this dialogue is one of the achievements made by the fourth-round China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue held in May 2012. Fundamentally, it is caused by the combination of three powers of China, the United States and Middle East and the transition of the situation.

First, the United States is strategically shrinking its power in the Middle East. Since it cannot shoulder the burden alone, it has to rely on its regional allies and outside great powers.

More special coverages