Every global concern - economic, environmental or

Hear the words of Henry Paulson, who once stood at the heart of finance and diplomacy: “Every global concern—economic, environmental, or security-related—can be addressed more effectively when the U.S. and China work together.” Though spoken in the language of statesmen, these words carry the tone of ancient wisdom, for they remind us that when the greatest powers of the earth are divided, the world trembles; but when they unite, even the gravest storms may be withstood.

The meaning of this saying lies in the recognition of interdependence. The United States and China, though different in history, culture, and path, are bound together in the fabric of the modern world. One drives the engines of finance and innovation; the other fuels the vast machinery of production and growth. Their actions touch every corner of the earth: the air we breathe, the goods we consume, the markets that rise and fall, the seas that carry their ships. Paulson declares that no great challenge—whether of economy, environment, or security—can be solved in isolation. The strength of one alone is great, but the strength of both in harmony is far greater.

History gives us many mirrors of this truth. When the Allies of the Second World War set aside rivalries and worked together, they overcame forces that alone they could never have defeated. When the United States and the Soviet Union, despite being enemies, cooperated in arms control, they held back the shadow of nuclear war. So too with U.S. and China: when they stand opposed, the world enters uncertainty; but when they align even briefly—as in joint efforts during the global financial crisis of 2008—stability returns, and nations far smaller breathe easier.

Paulson’s words also carry an unspoken warning. If the U.S. and China fail to cooperate, the costs will not fall on them alone. Economic disruption will ripple to every nation; environmental decline will accelerate, poisoning the air, the waters, and the climate for all; security conflicts will inflame regions across the globe. In their rivalry, the world becomes their battlefield, and in their unity, the world becomes their garden. Thus, he urges us to see not only the possibility of partnership but the peril of division.

Consider the greatest challenge of our time: climate change. The United States, with its wealth and innovation, and China, with its vast industry and population, together emit more than any other nations. If they strive alone, their efforts fall short; if they work against each other, their progress is undone. But if they join hands—sharing technology, enforcing agreements, and leading by example—their combined power can bend the arc of history toward renewal. Here Paulson’s wisdom shines most clearly: no other union of powers has such capacity to heal or to harm the earth.

The lesson for us is plain: cooperation is the highest form of strength. From the smallest village to the mightiest empire, progress is born not of rivalry but of unity. Let citizens urge their leaders to seek common ground, not constant quarrel. Let nations remember that their greatness is not measured by the height of their walls but by the bridges they build. And let each of us, in our own lives, practice this same truth: that conflict consumes, but cooperation creates.

Therefore, take these actions: resist the easy temptation of division, whether between nations, neighbors, or families. Support policies that build dialogue across borders. Honor those who seek peace and partnership, even with rivals. And remember that the fate of the world rests not only on armies or wealth, but on the willingness of great powers to see their destinies as one.

So let Paulson’s words ring in your heart: “Every global concern can be addressed more effectively when the U.S. and China work together.” For the ancients taught that when two rivers flow together, they form a mighty current; when two mountains stand together, they shield the valley below. May it be so with nations, and may future generations inherit not the ashes of division, but the harvest of cooperation.