China’s recent support impressive, encouraging

China’s support for anti-terrorism efforts has been impressive. Its purchase of 30 Boeing 737 airplanes highlights the effort China has made to help America in a time of need.

With any good economic news being welcome these days, the Chinese purchase has received a warm response. Secretary of Commerce Don Evans took part in a signing ceremony with Boeing and Chinese officials. He called the $1.6 billion purchase, which had been all but sealed for months, "part of what America needs now."

The deal won’t avert Boeing layoffs or resolve Washington state’s budget problems. But it certainly offers a measure of economic reassurance to the Northwest and the United States.

Just as importantly, China’s financial boost follows good diplomatic support it has provided ever since the Sept. 11 attacks. President Jiang Zemin was one of the first world leaders to offer sympathy and condemn terrorism.

President Bush and his advisers have conferred repeatedly with Chinese diplomats in recent weeks. On the United Nations Security Council, China last week supported a broad resolution backing the U.S. response and demanding that all member nations cooperate in acting against terrorist networks. China has also promised to share intelligence, which could be of significant value. China shares a short section of border with Afghanistan.

At the Boeing signing ceremony, Zhang Guobao, vice chairman of China’s State Development Planning Commission, said, "We will never forget our friends, particularly in times of difficulties. It is our hope that this purchase will strengthen ties between the two countries."

Joe Borich, executive director of the Washington State China Relations Council, points out that many in the Chinese and American governments would see this as a moment of opportunity for the relationship. U.S.-China dealings can be difficult, as the Whidbey Naval Station crew’s spy plane ordeal underlined dramatically earlier this year. But a series of difficulties early in the Bush administration had been replaced with more positive signs months ago, Borich noted. With the new perspectives created Sept. 11, he said, this could be a moment to step back and look at the shared interests as predominating, at least for some time to come.

Over a quarter century, China and the United States have managed to cooperate on key issues, often in very productive ways. Our differences on human rights questions have often been troublesome, but those tensions have frequently been eased by discussion and diplomacy. Both the Chinese people and their leaders have come a long way. While Americans don’t like every step taken by China, its journey has generally been toward the peace and prosperity that decent people everywhere seek. China’s support in the fight against terrorism should bring that home, for the Northwest and the nation.

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