The old saying in politics that there are no permanent enemies or friends —- just permanent interests —- also applies to business. That's particularly true when it comes to U.S.-China relations.

Like it or not, China is a big, and growing, factor in the U.S. economy. That doesn't mean we have to embrace China's politics, and probably few, if any, liberty-loving Americans do.

But as a trading partner, China is not going to go away. With that in mind, a national good cop-bad cop approach seems the best way to deal with Beijing.

Diplomats and politicians should handle diplomacy on issues like Tibet or the upcoming Olympic Games. And in a free country, human rights groups are always ready and able to keep their causes before the public's eye. That's as it should be.

The permanent interest of business, though, is business. And, in the ordinary course of international commerce, U.S. companies should relentlessly, though quietly, act as change agents while pursuing the trade that benefits many here. To expect much more from companies angling for market share in China's rapidly growing economy is a bit naive.

Let the Bush administration, trade officials and the World Trade Organization play the bad cops. Given China's behavior at times, they should find ample opportunities to weigh in. Quiet work by businesses can be effective over time in showing Chinese citizens and, let's hope, their government the benefits of private enterprise.

U.S. companies can be a positive influence in improving Chinese workplaces, at least those they directly control. We all know China has seen frightful problems with the safety or quality of some of its exports. Beijing may be learning that free markets can teach painful lessons in tainted-goods cases as demand drops or shifts elsewhere —- at least temporarily.

Safety issues aside, what does China trade mean for the U.S.? Think $65 billion in U.S. exports to China last year, with $1.6 billion of that coming from Georgia. That equates to thousands of U.S. jobs connected with sending abroad our goods and services.

Admittedly, our exports pale when stacked like seagoing shipping containers against our imports from China. About $321 billion in Chinese goods entered the U.S. in 2007, five times as much as we shipped to them. There's nothing new there. Given our love of inexpensive consumer goods, that ratio's probably not going to change much anytime soon either.

U.S.-China Business Council President John Frisbie says his group favors a balanced approach, recognizing both China's challenges and opportunities. He notes China is the United States' third-largest trading partner. "What you want to do is draw China more into the international arena, not push them away," he says.

Frisbie's right on that point. Further isolating Beijing —- at least on business issues —- will ultimately work against our economic interests. Worse yet, the U.S. would then lose the influence needed to bring about lasting, market-driven change.

—- Andre Jackson, for the editorial board (aajackson@ajc.com)