John Quelch: US needs to be more confident about being able to compete with China without having to throw up tariff related barriers and export controls

People's Daily Online has launched "Understand China," a new program that focuses on the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030). In this episode of "Understand China," Professor Gong Jiong from the University of International Business and Economics engages in a dialogue with John Quelch, executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University and recipient of the 2012 Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award.

In response to the discomfort and strategic anxiety felt by some regarding China's rapid development, the two scholars pointed out how China and the United States should manage the bilateral relationship appropriately.

"The United States needs to be more confident," said Quelch in response to the competition between China and the U.S. "Be more confident about being able to compete with China without having to throw up tariff related barriers and export controls. But at the same time, China, given everything it's achieved, should be more confident about its ability to compete with the United States by opening up further the domestic market."

Gong urged both China and the United States to strengthen communication in order to reduce cognitive biases and jointly foster more opportunities for global economic cooperation and development. "I hope it's going to be a fair and square, peaceful competition," he said.

Intern Ai Zixuan contributed to this story.