China's ties with the United States have grown increasingly tighter as the two countries have more and more mutual

interests in the areas of the economy, trade, technology and international affairs. The two countries also seem to be

getting to know each other better. At the same time, the people from the two countries have different understandings. Here

are the opinions on Sino-U.S. relations of those interviewed by Beijing Review reporters Chen Wen in New York and Ding Ying in Beijing.

Kate Laskowitz-Weingart

(Professor Emerita, Purdue University; Adjunct Instructor, Florida Atlantic University)

I believe that the 21st century will be the Chinese century and that it behooves our government to build many ties and bridges between the United States and China. Clearly the economic interests of both our countries are already integrated, and that should only increase. Yet, there is even more need to increase understanding, both ways, to enable our leaders and citizens to further understand the Chinese people, and for the Chinese people to understand the United States. These ties should be increased in the area of joint projects to include: partnering opportunities in education; technological and scientific areas; and business and commercial opportunities; along with increasing sister city communication and tourism.

If China and the United States could put together a mutual plan to reduce pollution, poverty and AIDS, I am sure such plans could really make a major impact in these critical areas. Clean air and clean water are essential for our lives, and again, if China and the United States could make bilateral agreements in these areas, the world would be a much better place.

I have not seen any major movements from the Chinese to dominate and enforce their domination through military means, whereas the United States has recently used military means to dominate other regions. Yet, unfortunately I think there are fears growing in the United States about the increased strength of the Chinese economy and potential military force. In order to counteract these fears, we need to increase our understanding of each other. This can only be done with the full support of the government and other leaders in both countries.

Randall Stempler

(An attorney who has been to China many times)

Americans have very different views. A lot of people are probably not that concerned about U.S.-China relations. In general, I don't think there are many people focusing on U.S.-China relations. Some Americans do think that their jobs are lost because of trade with China, but there are people who are in favor of free trade. It really varies.

Betty Lockhart

(Retired, formerly a probation officer, social worker and mental health worker, who has contact with Chinese students at Yale University and is interested in China)

I don't see how people could not be interested in China. It's such a significant country. I think there are inevitable events coming up that require the government to begin to pay more attention to China. The events include global warming and the increasing industrialization in China.

I think that we could eventually have very serious issues that we would have to resolve. I don't think I would use the word enemy at all. We'll work with China, particularly on global warming. Our national interests in the United States and in China may make these issues difficult. I think the average person in the United States has a very positive feeling about China. I'm 68 years old. I remember when we didn't understand China. I think Americans then were a little afraid of China. That was a long time ago, when I was a little girl. But not now, not at all.

Robert Stover

(A self-employed businessman who has small-business operations in China)

The biggest problem (in current China-U.S. relations) we face is that there is not a level playing field economically. Of course, business people such as myself are taking advantage of the situation, but it is mostly to survive. If we didn't, we would lose our businesses. This is not China's or the United States' fault. It is the world markets and free trade agreements that make it possible and a lot of goods have come from it, mostly low-cost goods for middle and lower class U.S. citizens that they could not otherwise afford. They have and continue to overspend, but that is not China's fault and it is a completely different story.

I am personally interested in [China's] overall culture, history and business trade. My commerce is simple and affords me a living. The history and culture have always been a fascination of mine even before I started traveling there. And cultures range from primitive to very modern, all in the same country. Also, watching China develop is in many ways the way America developed. Watching China is like watching the Industrial Revolution in America in fast motion, fast forward on a camera.

Chen Linlin

(English teacher at Shanghai-based Yangsi High School, who has an English name "Linda")

I am very confident in the future of the Sino-U.S. relationship—we have more and more common interests. The two governments must take cooperative strategies that are based on respecting each other to get a win-win situation.

Although we work together, we don't know enough about each other's social and cultural habits, mentalities and ideologies clearly. There are differences between us, and common people should get to know these things. Many Americans come to China to travel or to work, but they barely understand Chinese culture and Chinese people. I would rather say that their understanding about us is very shallow.

About the "China threat," I think it is ridiculous, because basically there is no such possibility. China, a friendly nation historically, is very cautious when dealing with world affairs.

If there are economic conflicts between us, we should know these are inevitable in the process of globalization. Yes, China's economy is developing rapidly. But can't America have an open heart to allow other countries' economies also to develop? In my opinion, America should think about helping to set up an open, just and orderly international competition system.

Xi Fengyao

(Editor of a legal magazine in Beijing)

The Sino-U.S. relationship is still very complicated. I would say that bilateral ties include both elements of cooperation and confrontation.

During World War II, America offered precious help to China. We will never forget this, which actually adds to Chinese people's favor of Americans. Besides, Chinese civilians risked their lives to rescue American pilots whose planes were destroyed by the Japanese army at that time. And Americans will not ignore this either.

Today's bilateral ties are different from those between any two big countries at any period in history. Our economic tie is so tight that no trade war can loosen it. For example, China's foreign currency reserves are mostly made up of U.S. dollars. If China [reduces] its U.S. dollar reserves, America's economy will be greatly affected. Now, China supplies major portions of the items used daily in the United States, and the two countries are bound together by demand and supply on some level.

Along with China's peaceful development, we will have some disputes. The reason is that there are differences in state interests. China's development will bring greater influence in the region and the world at large. The traditional South Korea-Japan-Australia-America alliance is not as tight as before, which means the other three countries are not following the United States step by step any more. When America feels threatened, it will take political, economic, military and even legislative actions to protect its own interests. China need not panic about this, because this is a natural approach a developed country takes toward a developing country that is rising rapidly. The United States should also realize that if it were not China, there would be other countries that grow to be its competitor in some fields.