Wednesday's over-the-phone talks between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush were expected to set the tone for the upcoming China-US strategic economic dialogue.

They agreed that bilateral relations have been gaining momentum, and the two countries should continue dialogue and cooperation.

The second round of strategic economic dialogue scheduled to take place in Washington late this month will add to the vitality of the trade between the two countries.

This is an important dimension of the dialogue. As Bush said, it is of great significance, because it reveals their willingness to handle their trade problems through high-level talks.

The relationship between China and the United States is both complicated and important. Their interactions have never been free of frictions, including concerns about trade balance, US access to Chinese markets, energy issues and environmental protection.

However, the two countries have learnt to deal with them constructively and avoid confrontation. The strategic economic dialogue is a brand-new approach to further examine and establish a trade relationship based on greater sensibility, pragmatism and sincerity.

These high-level talks on economic and trade concerns are possible, because the political and economic elites have become more moderate and open-minded when evaluating China's current and future development.

Bilateral relations have undergone prominent shifts over the past three decades. The United States was China's most important trade and investment partner after China opened up to the outside world. China was one of the United States' trade partners, with its investment of little consequence in the land of stars and stripes.

During the past five years since China joined the World Trade Organization, Sino-US trade relations have been characterized by fundamental changes that have forced American politicians and businesspeople to think seriously.

The United States' willingness to modify its relations with China demonstrates that US political and economic elites are facing a more confident, rapidly growing China.

However, this does not provide much optimism that all of the policies and views about containing China are gone in the United States. But the United States should understand that better cooperation with China has, and would continue to, benefit both countries.

The consensus that Hu and Bush have reached on building a constructive, cooperative trade partnership will set the ball rolling smoothly.

(China Daily May 11, 2007)