During his opening remarks at the seventh U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, Vice President Joe Biden said that China “awakened” an America that got “a little too comfortable in the last part of the 20th century.”
“Quite frankly, you’ve awakened us,” Biden told the Chinese delegation. “We got a little slow."
"We got a little, uh, too comfortable in the last part of the 20th century," he went on.
Biden discussed how China’s success in the international marketplace has served as “an extremely positive incentive” for the U.S. to step up its game.
“It awakened the competitive spirit that’s stamped into the DNA of every American, naturalized as well as native born,” he said. “A lot of them are Chinese, I might add.”
“It’s an extremely positive incentive for the United States and the world,” Biden said.
The potential 2016 Democrat presidential candidate added that China’s economic growth supports that of the United States, and vice versa.
“On a level playing field, our growth contributes to yours, and your growth in China contributes to ours,” he said.
“We do not fear China’s rise. We want to see China rise," said Biden. "To continue to rise in a responsible way that will benefit you most, China, because you have an important role to play."
“A rising China can be a significant asset for the region of the world, and selfishly for the United States,” he noted.
The Vice President said that, while the U.S. and China have significant disagreements, having China at the table when it comes to writing new international law on issues concerning cybersecurity, space travel, labor, and climate change is necessary.
He calls the developing U.S.-China relationship “responsible competition.”
“The United States believes strongly that, whenever possible, China needs to be at the table as these new rules are written," said Biden.
"Responsible competition, adhering to these common rules, both old and new, in my view will be the essential ingredient necessary to manage areas of disagreement and to build a long-term, sustainable U.S.-China relationship.”
Throughout his opening remarks, Biden plugged the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, calling for open waterways and stricter intellectual property laws.
Click here for his full remarks.