"Sino-U.S. relations were in a state of reconstruction," said Wang Yizhou, professor and Vice Dean of the School of International Studies, Peking University.

The United States' engagement with China over 40 years ago was based on the common threat the two sides were facing--the Soviet Union--and at that time, China was weak, Wang noted.

This situation, however, has now changed. China and the U.S. have no common threat; instead they face different challenges and differences.

"The current scenario has no precedent, so both countries must revisit their relations," Wang added.

(Source: Xinhua)