Beijing Review: How do you define the nature and general trend of Sino-U.S. relations?

Clark T. Randt: Very positive. The relationship has continued to improve. For that, I credit the vision of the leadership of our two countries. They have made it happen. The evidence of that is that never before in the history of U.S.-China relations have the two countries seen the exchange of so many high-level visits and face-to-face meetings between presidents.

President Bush has come to China more than once since he came to power. He has come three times already. He has telephone conversations and exchanges of letters with President Hu. I think that is very important in increasing mutual understanding and reducing potential misunderstanding and miscalculation.

When I came originally in 2001, President Bush instructed me that we [the United States] wanted a candid, cooperative and constructive relationship [with China]. Very honestly, the instructions to me today are still exactly the same. The president said that a healthy, prosperous and stable China, a China enjoying a peaceful relationship with its neighbors, is not only in the interest of the region but also in the interest of the United States and the whole world.

How would you describe China's current role in international politics and world trade?

We have been encouraging China for many years to play an active role in various international systems. We want China to play a leading role and that is what is happening. We think that China is a major player in many areas, including the world trading system.

You know, Deputy Secretary [of State Robert] Zoellick has urged China to become a responsible stakeholder in the world system. We have the same interest in maintaining the system, keeping it working. It is in accordance with our common interests. China and the United States share a number of very big, important common interests. Certainly one of them is globalization. China and the United States are both winners as a result of globalization. That is win-win for both of us. We have common interests in keeping the system, the global financial system and other international systems, intact.

You just mentioned Mr. Zoellick's remarks last September. It reminds me of my interviews with scholars of international affairs. They have come up with lots of interpretations of Mr. Zoellick's remarks. How do you interpret the term "responsible stakeholder" in the international system?

I think the term means more than just China being a participant and obtaining benefits from the system. Of course, China and the United States both do that. But you also have responsibilities and obligations really to maintain the system and work for the rules of the system. Your country is large and powerful. I will appreciate it if China