Jimmy Carter. File photo: VCG

On December 29, 2024, former US president Jimmy Carter passed away, at the age of 100. Carter's contributions to US-China relations were significant. As the driving force behind establishing diplomatic ties between the two nations, he played a pivotal role in fostering cooperation and mutual understanding over the decades. Among all US presidents in the past 40 years, Carter stood out. His knowledge of China was not limited to policy briefings or secondhand reports; it was rooted in firsthand experiences. 

Carter visited numerous places across China, including  locations such as Shenzhen, the city that became the engine of China's economic reform, and Xi'an, one of the oldest cities in China. His extensive interactions with people from all walks of life in China were rare among Western leaders.

I still have some photos (reproductions) from Carter's visit to Xi'an in the summer of 1981, when he and his wife Rosalynn toured the city. During that trip, Carter made a point to visit Fenghuo village, a rural village near Xi'an. I visited the village's historical museum a few years ago, where several photos from Carter's visit are prominently displayed. During his time there, Carter observed the villagers' grain and oil storage and learned about their cotton farming practices. Although Fenghuo village was considered relatively advanced at the time, Carter's conversations with local farmers and his experience enjoying a meal in a farmer's home provided him with a direct understanding of rural life in China.

Some scholars believe that one of Carter's most significant legacies was turning Richard Nixon's initial "engagement policy" into a reality, allowing it to take root and flourish. 

Another key legacy was his work through the Carter Center to help Americans better understand China. While many of the Center's projects were not directly related to bilateral relations, they contributed to fostering greater awareness of China among ordinary Americans.

In stark contrast, many of today's policymakers in Washington lack Carter's depth of understanding. While they may have received an excellent education in Western political systems and are well aware of the challenges facing America's global leadership, their knowledge of China is often superficial. Some have never visited China, let alone engaged with Chinese people from various backgrounds. Many rely solely on virtual tools or online sources to form their views of China. This contrasts sharply with Chinese officials' comprehensive understanding of the US. For a country like China, with its rich history and deep cultural traditions, it is impossible to fully grasp its complexities without firsthand experience. 

I often wonder how Washington's decision-makers can be so confident in their views of China. It may be a sense of Western cultural superiority. Yet, Carter, a typical US leader nurtured by Western civilization and a deeply religious man whose faith earned him the American people's trust, approached China with humility and a desire to understand.

Today, Washington's policymakers seem intent on dismantling the foundation of Carter's policies. They are working to construct an image of China as a hostile adversary, even resorting to spreading misinformation to achieve this goal. This is the most concerning aspect of the future of US-China relations.

Carter's passing marks the end of an era, and US-China relations are now entering a period of profound change. Both sides have expressed the need to effectively manage the relationship to prevent it from escalating into open conflict. Achieving this will require enhanced communication and deeper mutual understanding, including engagement at all levels. Ultimately, much depends on whether Washington's current and future leaders are willing to follow Carter's example: to step into China, meet its people and engage with them directly. Only through such efforts can the two nations build a foundation for lasting peace and cooperation.

The author is a senior editor with People's Daily, and currently a senior fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China. dinggang@globaltimes.com.cn. Follow him on Twitter @dinggangchina