At a time of mounting geopolitical uncertainty and economic fragmentation, renewed high-level engagement between China and the United States remains essential for global stability. As the world's two largest economies and most consequential technological giants, their relationship continues to shape the trajectory of the international system.

Even amid strategic competition, pragmatic cooperation between Beijing and Washington is not only possible but necessary.

A comparison between US President Donald Trump's visit to China in 2017 and the upcoming visit in 2026 illustrates how profoundly the structural foundations of the bilateral relationship have changed -and why engagement today carries different but significant possibilities.

First, renewed China-US engagement can contribute to global stability by reestablishing channels of high-level dialogue and reducing the risks associated with unmanaged strategic competition.

In a world marked by regional conflicts, supply-chain disruptions, and energy volatility, ongoing communication between major countries is a critical stabilizing mechanism.

Recent diplomatic contacts between US and Chinese officials ahead of Trump's visit have focused on trade disputes, agricultural exports and strategic materials such as rare earths, signaling that both sides recognize the value of dialogue in preventing further escalation.

Such engagement has implications beyond the bilateral relationship.

When China and the US communicate effectively, they help anchor the global economy and mitigate the risk of geopolitical shocks cascading into systemic crises.

Cooperation on issues such as energy security, climate governance, and financial stability is essential because the two nations have considerable influence over international institutions. Even limited progress in bilateral relations can generate positive spillover effects for the global system.

Second, despite persistent tensions, there are opportunities for cooperation in trade, science and technology and education.

Trade and investment ties between the two countries remain deep and resilient, reflecting decades of integration.

Even during periods of heightened friction — including the tariff escalation of recent years — both governments have continued negotiating arrangements designed to stabilize economic relations.

In 2025, for example, the two sides agreed to a temporary trade truce that reduced tariffs and export restrictions while encouraging increased Chinese purchases of agricultural products from the US.

This shows that both countries have an incentive to pursue cooperation in areas where interests converge. There are three main benefits of this approach.

The first is trade stabilization. Businesses on both sides want predictability rather than further tensions.

Maintaining tariff ceilings, reducing non-tariff barriers, and reopening suspended economic dialogue mechanisms could gradually rebuild confidence.

The second is supply-chain resilience. The pandemic and geopolitical tensions have exposed vulnerabilities in global production networks.

Rather than pursuing complete decoupling that is costly and disruptive, Washington and Beijing could work toward "smart openness" by continuing cooperation in key sectors while diversifying risk.

The third is cooperation in global economic governance. From energy markets to financial stability, the world economy requires coordination among major powers.

The current volatility in oil supply and shipping routes underscores how disruptions in one region quickly affect the entire global system.

In this context, even limited coordination between China and the US can stabilize markets and reassure investors.

Yet the nature of engagement today differs fundamentally from that of a decade ago. Trump visited China in 2017 when economic interdependence defined the core of China-US relations.

Although concerns about trade imbalances and technology competition were emerging, the relationship remained largely cooperative.

The visit in 2017 featured extensive ceremonial diplomacy, including meetings in Beijing and cultural events at the Forbidden City, reflecting an atmosphere that emphasized partnership and economic opportunity.

The context of the upcoming 2026 visit is far more complex. The bilateral relationship has seen a shift toward more pronounced strategic competition, set against a backdrop that has always included both integration and tensions.

At the same time, the continuing dialogue shows that competition has not eliminated the need for cooperation.

Unlike the Cold War rivalry between the US and the former Soviet Union, the China-US relationship is deeply embedded in the global economy.

Trade flows, financial interdependence, and scientific collaboration continue to link the two countries in ways that make complete disengagement impractical.

The difference between Trump's first visit and his upcoming second visit is expected to reflect a broader transformation: from engagement driven primarily by economic globalization to engagement aimed at managing strategic competition.

In 2017, the goal was to expand economic ties and resolve trade disputes within a framework of partnership.

Now, the objective is more modest but also more urgent — preventing rivalry from spiraling into confrontation while preserving areas of mutually beneficial cooperation.

This evolution does not imply that the bilateral relationship is declining. Rather, it suggests that China and the US must adapt their diplomatic approach to a new reality.

Engagement today not only involves building trust through direct negotiation and consultation, but also includes establishing guardrails that prevent competition from destabilizing the international system.

In this sense, a renewed China-US engagement is indispensable. The world's two largest economies may compete in technology, security and influence, but they also share the responsibility to ensure global stability.

By sustaining dialogue, pursuing pragmatic economic cooperation, and acknowledging the structural changes that have reshaped their relationship, Beijing and Washington can keep competition within bounds and ensure that the international system continues to function in ways conducive to enhanced global peace and prosperity.

The lesson from the past decade is clear: even in an era of sustained competition, engagement is not a concession but a strategic necessity.

The author is a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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