How do U.S. officials and scholars respond to the concept of a "new great power relationship"?

In a positive manner. Many are appreciative of the fact that China is now acknowledging that it has a global responsibility greater than issues directly related to the Asia-Pacific region. I think they welcome it. The specific term of a great power relationship is a natural thing when there is a rising power and a power that is already there on the international scene. In the view of most Americans, two ships can rise together in the water, and that is not a zero-sum game, but a win-win situation. The concept is accepted positively by everyone.

In what ways can China and the United States pursue this new relationship?

Through complex, multiple layers beginning with the personal relationship between President Xi and President Obama, where they develop a relationship based upon better understanding, mutual respect and hopefully trust. When they talk to each other through written messages, telephone calls or personal meetings, they reaffirm the common objectives that they both have. That is at the highest level, but people-to-people relationships are so important, from cultural performances to education, business and military-to-military cooperation. We may not agree on every issue, but we can find a way to resolve our differences.

Will the United States take sides in China's territorial disputes with its neighbors?

Each nation has its own national interests. Japan has great differences over the sovereignty of certain islands with China, so do the Philippines and Viet Nam. The important thing is that these issues do not create conflict and do not put the United States in a position where it has to take sides. We have historic alliance relationships, developed over time, with countries in the region and evolving friendships with other countries, like Myanmar, India and Viet Nam.

We need to understand that each of us has obligations and interests. We can work them out and some issues might have to be handled the way late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping handled some issues. Maybe they need to be put on the shelf for future generations and wiser minds will resolve them.

You have helped organize joint concerts of Chinese and U.S. military bands in recent years. How do you view the importance of cultural exchanges?

I have in my experience observed that the U.S.-China relationship began through culture and sports—ping-pong diplomacy and panda diplomacy. Then, I'm proud to say, Lang Lang diplomacy because famous young Chinese pianist Lang Lang has been a very close friend to myself and my wife since he was 14 and a half years old and came to Philadelphia to audition to become a student at the Curtis Institute of Music. We have also seen Yao Ming diplomacy and Beijing Olympics diplomacy. I would add the work that our band did. The U.S. Army Band, called Pershing's Own, not only hosted the Military Band of the PLA in the United States in 2011, but then came as the guest of the PLA band in 2012.

What is the general perception of Chinese culture in the United States?

American people want to enjoy and thirst for more Chinese culture—food, music, athletics and the rich history that China has. The diversity of Chinese history and culture—the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Terra Cotta Warriors in Xi'an—is of great interest to American people.

Now what we begin to see is a combination of Western and Chinese cultures as happened with the joint performances of the bands—the American band playing some Chinese music and the Chinese band playing some American music. We can enrich the relationship through culture because culture represents the soul of a nation.

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