Looking into the future, Hui Zhang, a senior research associate with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University, said that against the background of a world that remains haunted by the specters of nuclear proliferation and even nuclear terrorism, such bilateral cooperation "should continue and grow stronger."
Zhang suggested China and the United States launch in-depth discussions and best practice exchanges on how to increase international assurance about nuclear security conditions.
"They can also conduct joint exercises to strengthen coordinated response in the event of a nuclear terrorism or nuclear smuggling event," Zhang said.
"POSITIVE ENERGY" FOR MAJOR-COUNTRY RELATIONS
The increasingly close cooperation on nuclear security between China and the United States has a level of significance that goes far beyond the fission and fusion reactions. Observers say that it has set a good example for cooperation between the two global giants in other fields.
"Cooperation in civil nuclear facility security expands the field of China-U.S. cooperation, which will certainly provide impetus for building the new type of major-country relations," said Wu Xinbo, executive dean of the Institute of International Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
For one thing, such cooperation, which is to the delight of U.S. civil nuclear corporations, will help balance two-way trade, he said, adding that perhaps more importantly, it will contribute to enhancing strategic mutual trust and understanding.
Trust and understanding between the two countries are particularly needed now as their relations have been repeatedly strained over such thorny issues as the South China Sea and cyber security.
Some pessimists have even predicted that the differences over the South China Sea issue would dampen their willingness to expand strategic dialogues in other realms, including nuclear security.
Yang of the CIIS agreed that reinforced cooperation on nuclear security will "improve the overall atmosphere and contribute to stabilizing the framework of China-U.S. ties."
It will also generate specific interests for the two countries and bring real benefits to the development of the two economies and the well-being of the two peoples, he added.
"Nuclear security cooperation between China and the United States can be described as a fulcrum in the building of the new type of major-country relations," said Yang. "That is one of the reasons why China has actively participated in the NSS mechanism ever since it was launched."
