BY B.A. HAMZAH

“CHINA'S President Xi Jinping is making a landmark state visit to the United States for two days. Despite the US’ charges of currency devaluation, cyberespionage and concerns about geopolitical issues, such as China’s reclamation projects in the South China Sea, the two leaders still find time to talk to each other.

The importance of US-China relations in the 21st century must not escape us. They are the world’s most consequential strategic actors and the two biggest global economies, accounting for more than 74 per cent of global economic growth by gross domestic product (nominal) over 2014-15.

The world has yet to recover from the recent market crash in China. Some are predicting that China’s real economy may slow down much further. Although the recent “Black Monday” was nowhere near the 1997-98 financial crisis, it was nevertheless disruptive. “

The writer is adjunct senior scholar at the National Institute for South China Sea Studies in Haikou, China.

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http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/raw-power-politics-us-china-ties