Translated by Li Yang from 21st Century Business Herald

In his talk with former US President Jimmy Carter, China's top political leader and head of the military Xi Jinping, emphasized that China and the United States must overcome difficulties to build up positive energy and construct mutually beneficial cooperative relations, starting a new chapter of Sino-US ties.

In the past two years, the US' return to Asia and the Pacific strategy has prompted some countries to challenge China's sovereignty and has influenced regional stability. It seems Sino-US ties have fallen to a low ebb.

Even so, Xi still has positive messages for the US from the new leadership. China and the US have never stopped their increasingly frequent contact in various fields at various levels, be it inter-governmental or civil, which provides necessary opportunities to promote understanding and mutual respect and deepen mutual trust.

With Hillary Clinton retired from her post of secretary of state, US President Barack Obama, free from the pressures of re-election, now has more space and energy to rethink his polices on China and improve Sino-US ties with his new counterparts in China.

The US' return to Asia has only aggravated regional instability and uncertainties. The US cannot afford to let these disputes escalate further and the US has not demonstrated that they have the necessary skills and energy to get the disputes and conflicts under control. The US being a troublemaker for the region is obviously against the US' national interests.

The US Cold War mentality forces local countries to take sides between the US and China. A divided Asia is no good for the world's economic recovery and will also ruin the close regional cooperation which is a result of Asian countries' long-term efforts.

Despite the current situation and cultural differences between China and the US, Sino-US ties are totally different than the relationship between the former Soviet Union and the US. Both China and the US have open societies. China does not intend to challenge the US' status and interests. China and the US have brighter prospects for cooperation. The challenge now, is both countries must care for each other's strategic concerns and consistently deepen mutual trust by accumulating positive energy.