Upside Down - Rightside Up

Nearly everyone is discussing how the first half of 2009 will develop. Will the Chinese economy continue its slide ? Will the US planned stimulus package ignite consumption in the US and reignite the Chinese export engine ? How will the globalized economy re-balance itself ?

As a student of history I find the current interdependent economic relationship between China and the United States to be a revolutionary "turning of the tables."

Think back to 2006, 2007 and early 2008 when the western Media was shouting as loud as possible about all of the problems in China. Human Rights problems. Centralized economic planning problems. IP theft and unfair treatment of private entrepreneurs. One Family Child policies.....the list goes on and on.

Now the table is upside down.

Western countries and particularly the United States "NEED" China's economic output. They need China's contribution to the global GDP. They need China to be stable and productive not introspective and unstable.

Private business around the world operate on a base of cordial government-to-government relationships. The US and China have an historic opportunity to become true partners. Together these two countries could single handedly create the spark needed to restart the global economy.

China is already the single largest underwriter of the US deficit. Why not build on this relationship by creating additional cross-national investment opportunities ?

US technology is driving the Chinese high technology sector. Why not open up this channel even more by providing subsidies and other incentives for companies to export more technology to China ?

There are many ways that these two nations can work together. If Obama gets the good advice that he deserves as the "Change" president he will look beyond the media hype of communism and democracy and focus on strengthening people's daily lives through both domestic and international programs.

The US is at risk of isolating itself. China has opened up to the world. isn't this an opportunity for a new kind of global growth ?

There is no other country in the world better positioned to be a productive trade and economic partner with the United States other than China ! We all hope Obama comes to China soon and starts the process of "change."