In feudal times, peace and tranquility was maintained through the "suzerain-vassal" relations between China and Southeast Asia under the guiding ideology of "harmony is the most precious".

封建时代，以“和为贵”指导思想的中国东南亚“朝贡—宗藩关系”曾维系着东南亚地区的和平与安宁。

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He said that the friendship between both peoples goes back to ancient times and bilateral relations hold a special status in China-Africa relationship.

他说，中几两国人民之间的友谊源远流长，两国关系在中非关系中占有特殊地位。

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At times, in short, his conciliatory tone has been read as weakness. But he has notched up successes, too, such as resetting relations with Russia partly to tighten sanctions on Iran.

总之，有时他那有和解之意的语调读起来总是缺乏坚定，但是他也赢得了成功，比如他和俄罗斯在进一步制裁伊朗方面重新建立关系。

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"I don't think it's in the interests of either country to see relations deteriorate to where they have been at times in the past, " he said.

CNN: Iran's attacks on UK tap into centuries of suspicion

That surely will rank as one of the most important moments in the history of government-business relations -- yet, in a sign of the times, it is almost a footnote to all the other giant events of the period.

WSJ: Making Sense of a Dizzying Ride

Still, these are tense and unpredictable times in trade relations between the two countries.

ECONOMIST: America and China