CRI听力:China and US Should Work Together to Narrow Down Differences: Expert

A leading Chinese expert on Sino-US relations  said that the two countries should work together to narrow differences and enhance cooperation.

Da Wei is the director of the Institute of the United States at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations.

He says the upcoming visit by President Xi Jinping is at a critical time for the two countries.

"The U.S. will soon enter its election cycle and the Obama administration has only a little more than a year left. The China-U.S relationship has entered a key period. I think President Xi's upcoming visit could narrow the difference between the two countries through cooperation to further strengthen the foundation of the relationship. It could affect Obama's remaining tenure and even time after that. And it will play an important role for the China-U.S. relationship in the U.S.'s next government."

During President Xi's visit to the U.S. in June, 2013 the two leaders reached an agreement to jointly build a new relationship between the two major powers.

Xi Jinping has on several occasions talked about the importance of, and effort needed, to build this new type of relationship.

Da Wei says to achieve the goal, the two countries will need to improve communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen cooperation.

"The new China-U.S. major-power relationship is one that emphasizes no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation. The other core and substantial content in the theory refers to that China, as a country which is rising rapidly, will need to achieve long-term peaceful coexistence and mutual development with the U.S, which is an existing great power. The goal is to maintain the sustained, sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations."

The expert notes that despite different opinions on issues such as the South China Sea and cyber security, the two countries have made progress in multiple areas.

"On the bilateral level, there were frequent high-level visits between the two countries. The Chinese leaders went to the U.S. and the U.S. leaders came to China to have long conversations. Strategic economic dialogues and high-level cultural consultations are also developing smoothly."

The 7th China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue, held in Washington D.C. in June this year, produced ample outcomes in various economic issues, including the promise of building more open and stable financial sectors in both countries.