CHINESE CHIC: A Chinese flag is displayed on the NASDAQ building video screen in New York City's Times Square on January 20, three days before the traditional Chinese lunar New Year (WANG CHENYUN)

Recent events in the Asia-Pacific region reminded the two sides of the need to find a way to resume strategic mutual trust between them. Analysts suggested that the two countries should seize the current opportunity and adjust their policies toward each other in accordance with circumstances based on the principles of mutual benefit and win-win progress.

"American politicians accuse China of trying to challenge U.S. leadership on the planet. Some Chinese elites believe Washington's intention is to prevent China's development and China should react with a tough attitude," said Wang.

Both countries regard the Asia-Pacific region as being critically important to them. "Obviously, it's China's home region and China is a critical player in the region. But the United States regards the Asia Pacific as kind of a home region as well, partly because we have a long Pacific coast and we also have alliances throughout Asia. And there are also very profound security interests in the region that we have to be active," said Firestein. China and the United States share fundamental objectives in the Asia Pacific because both countries want to see peaceful relations, stability and prosperity in the region, he added.

He said in terms of those broad objectives, there is commonality between the two countries. "I think we see some tactical differences in the region. But on the whole, the United States and China have either commonality or complimentarity of interests," he said.

The changed situation in Asia Pacific and growing mutual interests between China and the United States provide unprecedented opportunities for them to enhance strategic trust, said Wang of Peking University.

Wang said differences between the two sides will never be big enough to prevent China and the United States from trade and economic cooperation. Plus, the world needs them to work together on global finance, trade, energy, climate change, public health and regional issues. "As long as they proceed with expanding common interests in different aspects on different levels, China and the United States will be able to establish a global partnership based on strategic mutual trust," Wang said.

Trade and economic ties have been the driver of the Sino-U.S. relationship. Statistics from China's Ministry of Commerce show that the bilateral trade volume reached a record high of $446.7 billion in 2011. The United States exported $122.2 billion to China last year, increasing 20 percent from 2010. Now, China and the United States are the second biggest trade partners to each other.

China and the United States should admit that each has undeniable advantages in its development model, and they must rely on each other when dealing with global issues, Wang said.

Jia of the CIIS said the two countries should be more tolerant of the other country's influence. "China welcomes the United States to play a constructive role in the region, and U.S. influence in the Asia-Pacific region shouldn't be exclusive," he stressed. The United States should make efforts to promote a regional multilateral cooperative dialogue mechanism.

"The United States must realize that it also will benefit from regional integration," Jia said. "This is not a zero-sum game, nor a hostile competition. We can make the pie bigger together."

Firestein said the United States welcomes the rise of a strong, confident and prosperous China that plays a greater role in international affairs. And China has welcomed the United States as an Asia-Pacific nation that contributes to the peace and prosperity of the region.

"I think those basic statements articulated in the joint statement between presidents Obama and Hu a year ago accurately capture the ways the two countries have viewed each other and the possibilities for cooperation," Firestein said.

Vice President Xi said in an interview with The Washington Post shortly before traveling to the United States that the Pacific Ocean is big enough to hold both China and the United States.

As long as the two powers can forge consensus and mutual trust, they will eventually find a unique way to cooperate, because they understand that being friends is the only correct choice.

(With reporting by Chen Wen in New York City)

A Brief Profile of Xi Jinping

Xi Jinping, born in June 1953, is a native of Fuping, Shaanxi Province. He graduated from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tsinghua University. He holds a doctor of law degree through an on-the-job postgraduate education program.

Xi is now a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, vice president of the People's Republic of China, vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission and president of Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

(Source: www.gov.cn)

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