For China-US relations to improve, issues like the Three Ts (Tian'anmen, Tibet, Taiwan), the dollar-yuan exchange rate, climate change cooperation and human rights need to be dealt with through an overall strategic guidance and coordination.

China and the U.S. are faced with common challenges that are vital to human existence in the long run, including nuclear nonproliferation, the establishment of a multilateral security mechanism, anti-terrorism, outer space issues and Internet security. Both powers are obliged to handle these issues in a rather prudent manner. As the issues are all interwoven, the only way they can be settled properly is through integrative and dialectical thinking.

To avoid clash and crisis, a more common code of conduct and crisis management should be outlined. Both countries should have a clear idea of the sensitive issues and take effective measures to prevent the possibility of conflict.

The fact is that the United States is not used to dealing with a rising China and China is not skilled in handling issues with the U.S. Problems generated by the gap in development are still severe, so strategic dialogue is of great significance to their mutual shaping.

The first task for China and the United States should be to maintain stable, bilateral relations. It requires wit and wisdom of statesmen from both sides and is apparently not easy to make.

Wang Fan is director of the International Relations Department at the China Foreign Affairs University.

(This article was translated by Chen Chen and Fan Junmei)