"The most critical relationship to get right is that between the United States and China. Every day the affairs of our nations and the livelihoods of our citizens become more connected," he said.
The Obama administration also wants stronger ties with other emerging powers like India, Brazil, Russia, Turkey and South Africa, said Biden, who has played an important role advising the president on foreign policy as well as making his re-election case on the 2012 campaign trail.
He did not say what he expects to transpire in Iran and North Korea, where tensions about nuclear programs are running high, nor in Syria where street violence continues despite the government having nominally agreed to a U.N.-backed peace plan.
Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee to oppose Obama in the November 6 election, has accused the current administration of rushing for the exits in Iraq and Afghanistan and showing weakness in its dealings with China, Russia and Iran.
Biden said the graduates at West Point - whose 2012 class motto was "For More Than Ourselves" - would have to be ready to adapt their counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and other training to new horizons, "from cyber space to outer space."
"This is your destiny, to lead your country. You are the leaders of your generation, the 9/11 generation, which I predict will go down in history as the finest generation this nation has ever produced," he said.
(Vicki Allen)
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