By New Worker
correspondent
People’s
China and the USA are locked into a trade war that effects the day-to-day lives
of millions of Chinese and American workers. Nobody knows how it will all end
but a mutually beneficial way forward is charted out in a documentary that was
shown last week at the Chinese embassy in London.
The thaw in Sino-American relations began
during the ‘ping-pong’ diplomacy of the Nixon era. The US leader would end
decades of confrontation when he met Mao Zedong in 1972.
The film begins with a warning from
Richard Nixon’s foreign secretary, the now 95-year-old Henry Kissinger,
declaring: “If we are to clash, it would be a disaster for the whole world.”
Better
Angels
is a documentary focusing on Sino-American relations seen through the eyes of
major players and ordinary people on both sides of the Pacific Ocean.
Nearly 100 people from all walks of life
joined Chinese diplomats at the screening of Better Angels and the reception, jointly organised with the Asia
House business forum. They included Chinese diplomats Chen Wen and Ma Hui from
the Chinese Embassy in London, along with the film’s director, British born
film-maker and two-time Oscar winner Malcolm Clarke.
Chen said in her speech that Better Angels, which was filmed over
five years across four continents, touched the audience with stories of
ordinary Chinese and Americans, and revealed the wisdom and hope for Sino–US
relations. She shared her views on how to achieve understanding and trust
between big countries. First, “we should bridge over mysteries between
cultures” she said. "We could bring our people together and cement public
support for our bilateral relations."
Second, we should tear down the wall of
prejudice and misgivings, and engage in consultation and cooperation in the
spirit of mutual respect, openness and friendship.
Third, guided by Xi Jinping ‘Thought on
Diplomacy’, we should build a community with a shared future for humankind and
blaze a new path of state-to-state relations by building a new type of
international relationship featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and
win–win co-operation.
Forty years have passed since China and
the USA established their diplomatic relations. The past experience and
enlightenment of Sino–US relations show that the co-operation between the two
countries will benefit not only the two nations but also the whole world.
After the screening, Director Malcolm
Clarke answered questions from the audience. He said that China has a long
history and a splendid civilisation. In its 40 years of reform and opening up,
China has created a “miracle of development”. There is always an
"information deficit" between China and the West however.
Not everyone can appreciate China’s
development, and the extraordinary and far-reaching significance of the
“Chinese miracle”. He hoped that this film would reduce the misunderstanding of
China, and that more good films showing the true Chinese image and the story of
ordinary Chinese people would appear in the future.
The audience, marvelling at China’s
achievements, said that the world now needs to know more about China.
