On July 27, 2009, the US and China held the first time ever Strategic and Economic high level Forum in Washington DC. In its opening session, President Obama announced that the US and China together will shape the 21st century. (see detail here http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-ap-us-china-talks-future,0,2717386.story)

Some people may say this may be some US's side flowery rhetoric that meant to make the Chinese side feel elated. Really? But to me, such a statement is significent and formal enough to go beyond sweet PR level play of words. Then why the US President got to say this to the world in such an official occasion? My answer is reality check and driven.

It also reminds me of a famous scene in the movie "Patton" where the US Army General Patton during WWII was giving a speech in the UK and claimed "in the post war era the US and UK will surely rule the world". His cautious assistant aside kept warned him:"also the Russians, don't forget Russia..."

So guess it's a typical Amercan style to state that the US and another country together will run the world. Amazingly back to Patton's time, Marshal Stalin of the Soviet Union might get mad at what Patton offended, but today the world seems to accept what Obama said fine. Of course Obama used the word "shape" which is a bit softer than Patton's "rule", but what's the real difference?

Anyway, just interesting trend the time and momentum are leading all of us into. To get there, I believe te US needs making less mistakes while China needs resolving more tugh issues. But as President Obama points out bluntly: the trend is there and it seems unstoppable. We again are in mid of some milestone changes of the world.