Opinion | Stakes have never been higher for US-China cooperation to get into gear

The visit of China’s special envoy for climate change, Liu Zhenmin, to the United States on May 8-9 was one of the many recent interactions highlighting the renewed momentum in US-China relations. The visit included discussions with the new US climate envoy John Podesta on deploying technologies to reduce emissions from greenhouse gases like methane.

This event underscores a broader trend of increased interactions between the US and China, such as the recent Harvard Kennedy School China Conference, where the responsibilities of both nations in maintaining global peace were emphasised.

A notable example of successful cooperation is the recent handling of Iran-Israel tensions. Intelligence about a potential escalation after Israel’s attack on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus prompted US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and ask for China’s intervention.

Wang contacted his Iranian counterpart, urging restraint. This intervention no doubt helped temper Iran’s retaliation against Israel, showcasing how China and the US can collaborate for world peace.

In an increasingly interconnected world beset by conflict and facing profound challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), climate change, cybersecurity and space exploration, the need for US-China cooperation has never been more pressing.