Group of Two
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
- Chimerica
- Sino-American relations
- U.S.–China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
- 2009 G-20 London Summit
- 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summit
- 2009 Barack Obama visit to China
References
- ^ http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/65232/c-fred-bergsten/twos-company
- ^ http://www.iie.com/publications/papers/paper.cfm?ResearchID=1291
- ^ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KE29Ad01.html
- ^ http://www.fpa.org/topics_info2414/topics_info_show.htm?doc_id=912530
- ^ http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/KE29Ad01.html
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