Since the inauguration of the Obama administration, China-U.S. relations have developed against the backdrop of the global financial crisis and economic slowdown. Their collaboration in dealing with the most severe financial crisis since World War II serves as a major driving force for the world's lasting prosperity and stability. Addressing the Asia Society in New York on February 13, Clinton referred to the Chinese aphorism that says, "When you are in a common boat, you need to cross the river peacefully together," as she described the importance of China-U.S. relations. Her reference was vivid and accurate.

China and the United States made major progress in their relations in the first 100 days of Obama's presidency. Their heads of state met with each other; the U.S. secretary of state and the Chinese foreign minister exchanged visits; they agreed to upgrade various former dialogue mechanisms to the comprehensive mechanism of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues; and they announced in late February the resumption of military exchanges, which were suspended late last year over a multi-billion-dollar U.S. arms package for Taiwan.

Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming visited the United States in late April. Chinese buyers led by the minister provided the sluggish U.S. economy with orders worth more than $10 billion. Obama has expressed appreciation for the continued improvement in relations across the Taiwan Straits and for the progress in cross-Straits talks, signaling that the strategic sensitivity of the Taiwan question has been substantially reduced. The chances of "Taiwan independence" forces dragging China and the United States into war have become increasingly insignificant. All these moves show that China-U.S. ties got off to a good start in the first 100 days after Obama took office.

Since Obama has not appointed all his cabinet officials, detailed policies on China-U.S. relations have yet to be worked out. Who will lead the China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogues, and how will the dialogues be carried out? How will they balance "China's responsibility" in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with America's commitment to transfer technologies for energy conservation and emissions reduction to China? How will they strengthen exchanges in reforming the global financial supervision system? How will economic stimulus plans be coordinated in keeping with emerging economies' growing say in international financial institutions? China and the United States need to demonstrate greater sincerity and make greater efforts to address these shared concerns.

The author is a professor at the School of International Studies, Peking University