Political figures from around the world warned on Wednesday that current tensions between China and the United States have made it harder to coordinate a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and they urged the world's two largest economies to work together to address wider existential challenges toward humanity.

These remarks were made during the third edition of the Hong Kong Forum on US-China Relations. The online event was organized by the China-United States Exchange Foundation and the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, said global dialogue and collaboration have been more important than ever before after nearly two years into a devastating pandemic, and a good relationship between China and the US is the most important of all.

As the world's most powerful nations, Robinson said China and the US should be leading the way to develop long-term solutions in tackling the existential threats facing humanity from the pandemic to the climate crisis and the risk of nuclear conflict.

Noting that open dialogue is essential to rebuilding trust between the two countries, she also called for positive competition between them.

"Any family knows that the world needs China and the United States to be working together, marshaling and complementing their respective strengths and developing a robust framework for 21st century governance, sustainability, prosperity," she added.

Goh Chok Tong, a retired Singaporean politician who served as prime minister between 1990 and 2004, said what remains unchanged is the global strategic importance of the US-China relationship despite profound evolutions in the international landscape.

Mutual trust

While calling for strengthening political mutual trust between them, Goh suggested the US-China relationship should be underpinned by healthy competition and driven by cooperation.

He expressed concerns over the Taiwan question, and said all countries in the world want a positive, constructive relationship with both the US and China.

Yasuo Fukuda, who served as Japanese prime minister from 2007 to 2008, said he is not prepared to limit himself to pessimism about US-China relations as both the Chinese and US presidents have committed in their virtual summit in December that they do not want competition between the two countries to lead to confrontation.

He suggested the two countries should start resolving their trade issue to enhance bilateral ties.

Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on US-China Relations, said the US and China need to agree on a definition of national security so that it does not become so broad that they cannot do business with each other in areas that do not affect national security.

Orlins said he is optimistic about US-China relations as "a more positive and constructive US-China relations is in the interests of the US people, it is in the interests of the Chinese people, and it is in the interests of the world".