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[[File:China USA Locator.png|right|200px|link=|alt=]]
The [[Group of Two]] (abbreviated as '''G-2''' or '''G2''') is a proposed informal [[special relationship]] between the [[United States]] and [[People's Republic of China|China]].
The [[Group of Two]] (abbreviated as '''G-2''' or '''G2''') is a proposed informal [[special relationship]] between the [[United States]] and [[People's Republic of China|China]].



Revision as of 20:01, 29 December 2009

The Group of Two (abbreviated as G-2 or G2) is a proposed informal special relationship between the United States and China.

History

The concept of a G-2 was first raised by noted economist C. Fred Bergsten in 2005.[1] Bergsten makes the following arguments for such a relationship:

  • "the two together accounted for almost one half of all global growth during the four-year boom prior to the crisis;"
  • "they are the two largest trading nations;"
  • "they are the two largest polluters;"
  • "they are on opposite ends of the world's largest trade and financial imbalance: the United States is the largest deficit and debtor country while China is the largest surplus country and holder of dollar reserves; and"
  • "they are the leaders of the two groups, the high-income industrialized countries and the emerging markets/developing nations, that each now account for about one half of global output."[2]

Zbigniew Brzezinski, former U.S. National Security Advisor has been a vocal advocate for the concept. He advanced the notion in Beijing in January 2009 as the two countries celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishing formal diplomatic ties.[3]

Historian Niall Ferguson has also advocated the G-2 concept.

Robert Zoellick, president of the World Bank, and Justin Yifu Lin, the Bank's chief economist and senior vice president, said that "without a strong G-2, the G-20 will disappoint."

As the two most influential and powerful countries in the world, there has been increasingly strong suggestions within American political circles of creating a G-2 relationship where the United States and China would work out solutions to global problems together.[4]

While widely discussed, the concept of a G-2 has not been fully defined. According to Brzezinski, G-2 described the current realities while for British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, a G-2 could emerge in the foreseeable future.[5] Miliband proposed EU integration as a means to create a potential G-3 with the United States, China and Europe.

See also

References