Based on your experience, do you think there are still some misunderstandings between people in the United States and China?

Unfortunately, there are still misunderstandings on both sides. A lot of American people, whether government officials or ordinary people, need to understand China better, and the Chinese Government and Chinese people need to understand America better. It's a never-ending process. It takes a long time and has to go step by step. Sometimes it is very rewarding and sometimes it is very frustrating.

Misunderstandings are in various areas: trade, politics, culture, philosophy, etc. We come from very different backgrounds. We have very different attitudes toward various things. I think in the long run, living in another country for an extended period of time is probably the best way to lessen misunderstandings.

But on the other hand, the Americans and the Chinese have many similarities. I find that the two peoples have a sort of natural affinity toward one another. We tend to like one another and are able to easily establish a good relationship and long-term friendship. And that's very encouraging.

How do you think both sides can understand each other better?

Increase and stay in contact, that's the only way it can happen.

You witnessed ping-pong diplomacy and Dr. Henry Kissinger's secret Beijing trip, among other events that made history for Sino-U.S. relations. Do you think those epochal events were based on the wisdom and vision of the two countries' leaders, or was it just the right time for a breakthrough?

I think it was a combination of both. The leaders of the two countries wanted to establish a relationship for a variety of geopolitical reasons, and I think fortunately the time was right. We had wise and very forward-thinking leaders in both countries who were able to work well together and make progress. So I think it was very good timing and thoughtful leadership.

What changes do you expect U.S. President-elect Barack Obama will bring to relations between China and the United States?

President-elect Obama has a huge number of problems in terms of the economic situation in the United States. I think that at the moment the U.S.-China relationship is actually on quite good, stable ground. I don't think China will be one of the first issues for the president to address because he has so many other pressing and dangerous situations. As I said, the economy is an issue and the crisis in the Middle East could be very dangerous. There are many other areas that are going to demand his attention immediately. Fortunately, China is not among them.

The Bush administration, while I don't agree with many of its policies, either domestic or foreign, has done a very good job in its relations with China. It was very fortunate that over the past eight years, the Bush administration had very positive policies toward China. President [George W.] Bush has done a good job in a variety of ways. There are now so many relationships, government to government, people to people, people to government, government to people, NGOs to NGOs, etc. There is a strong web of relationships between China and the United States. There are many Chinese students in this country, an increasing number of American students going to China to study, an increasing number of Americans who are studying Chinese here in this country. So the relationship is inevitably going to grow. I really think that President Obama is not going to change much on China, certainly not during his first six months in office. The relationship at this point is fine.

Regarding current bilateral relations, in your opinion, what are the most important principles that both countries should observe to continuously strengthen relations?

To be open, curious and try to trust one another.

(Reporting from New York)

Landmarks

- February 21-28, 1972: U.S. President Richard Nixon visits China. The two countries issue the Shanghai Communiqué on February 28.

- May 1, 1973: China and the United States open liaison offices in each other's capitals.

- December 1-5, 1975: U.S. President Gerald Ford visits China.

- December 16, 1978: China and the United States issue the Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. The two countries agree to recognize each other and establish diplomatic relations as of January 1, 1979. In the communiqué, they also agree to exchange ambassadors and establish embassies on March 1, 1979.

- January 28-February 5, 1979: Chinese Vice Premier Deng Xiaoping visits the United States.

- April 10, 1979: U.S. President Jimmy Carter signs the Taiwan Relations Act, which China believes interferes in its internal affairs. The act requires the United States "to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character."

- August 17, 1982: China and the United States issue the August 17 Communiqué in which the United States states that "it intends gradually to reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan, leading, over a period of time, to a final resolution." The August 17 Communiqué along with the Shanghai Communiqué and the Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, lays the groundwork for China-U.S. relations.

(Source: www.xinhuanet.com)