Despite its serious concern about information security, the US displayed more impressive diplomatic courtesy than in previous sessions, avoiding unwarranted finger-pointing regarding the alleged Chinese theft of personal files of US federal employees. Such attitude created conditions for the two sides to build trust, reduce suspicion, and restore collaboration. The US side demonstrated a more open stance on China's application for the RMB to become a new reserve currency for the IMF. Which also contributes to a constructive atmosphere for the upcoming summit meeting of the two countries' leaders.

Many contradictions between China and the US have emerged with the progress of their relations. They can only be resolved through deepening bilateral ties. What the progress of bilateral ties has brought is overwhelmingly positive energy consistent with the two peoples' wishes for peace and prosperity. People have very high expectations on the two parties' future negotiations about an agreement on mutual investments, hoping that each side will shorten its own negative list. Even if China won't take part in the TPP negotiations and become a member of it in the near future, and the US won't join the AIIB for the time being, they can still share larger-scale two-way investment cooperation through reaching an agreement on mutual investments, boosting employment and equity earnings for both.

For a long time, the US has been accustomed to being the sole provider of the world's public goods, and being the sole superpower. It has difficulty adapting to the fact that other countries, including China, are beginning to provide public goods regionally and globally, and that it is no longer the only rule-maker for the present-day world. Therefore, the US needs self-inspiration, system innovation, and readjustments. By revitalizing itself, the US may bring both fresh pressure and motivation for other countries. The latter may thus achieve faster progress, subjecting the US to new competitions.

Such is the current China-US relationship. Contradictions accompany development, development overcomes contradictions; competition stimulates progress, progress facilitates equality. China-US relationship is such a gradually maturing new type of relations. The two countries will find more challenges in their face in the next few decades. But since they can't afford the consequences of confrontation, dialogue and cooperation will be their common choice. There will be more cooperation as both parties mature in mindset.

The author is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.h5a3.com/opinion/shendingli.htm

This article was first published at Chinausfocus.com To see the original version please visit http://www.chinausfocus.com/foreign-policy/maturing-china-u-s-ties-to-breed-breakthroughs/

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