The lighthouse on Zhubi Reef of Nansha Islands in the South China Sea (XINHUA)

Americans with vision believe that it's in everyone's best interests for the two sides to have peaceful, cooperative relations.

Among them is Nicholas Burns, former U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, who said the United States cannot and should not make China its enemy.

Burns made the remarks during a keynote speech at the Washington-based Wilson Center on May 6. "China will be the most important relationship for the United States in the next half-a-century. While we are partners with China, we are also strategic competitors," he said.

Burns said the United States should strike a balance in both two aspects, instead of just focusing on the military side.

Burns's idea is echoed by many in the United States and China who have been making solid efforts to improve bilateral ties, fix misunderstandings and create a fair benefit sharing mechanism.

It takes joint efforts of China and the United States to build a new model of major-country relationship that avoids conflict and confrontation and that values mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

China and the United States have a lot to achieve together if they focus on cooperation.

Economically, the slack global economic recovery needs both China and America to tackle deep-seated problems and ensure there is no resurgence of financial crisis.

In the diplomatic spectrum, both countries are indispensable to promoting emission reduction, nuclear non-proliferation, global poverty relief and counter-terrorism.

China's growing economic capacity and global influence has got on the nerves of some conservatives and militarists, who are obstinate in their Cold War mentality. They have turned a blind eye to China's sincere cooperative willingness and its efforts to promote common prosperity in the world.

On May 10, a U.S. Navy destroyer sailed within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese island in the Nansha Islands.

In a video link-up on May 12, top generals from both sides called for restraint and de-escalation of tensions in the disputed waters, while agreeing to work closely to establish an effective mechanism on risk control to maintain stability by peaceful means.

China and the United States should continue deepening communication and cooperation to ensure healthy development of the two countries' relationship as cooperation benefits both countries while confrontation would only hurt.

(Xinhua News Agency May 17, 2016)