Survey: China, US need to trust

A public perception survey shows that the people of both China and the United States should increase mutual trust and understanding to promote bilateral relations.

The study revealed that 63 percent of US respondents believe China is an important cooperation partner of the US, and both sides benefit from growing bilateral trade and investment.

The survey, conducted by the Committee of 100, a nongovernmental organization that seeks to promote constructive dialogue and relationships between the people and leaders of both nations, was undertaken earlier this year, providing an important resource for policy formulation and academic research in China-US relations.

Released at an awards ceremony on Saturday, the survey showed that 57 percent of respondents have a favorable impression of China, the highest since 2007. Nearly 70 percent believe China should be encouraged to invest in the US.

However, the survey also revealed that there is a lack of trust, and miscommunication affects Americans’ understanding of China.

The survey also indicated that millennials between the age of 18 and 34 are more optimistic about the relationship and more trusting of the other country.

The meetings between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump were successful in stabilizing the ties, but bilateral relations still face a lot of challenges, said Jia Qingguo, professor and dean at Peking University’s School of International Studies.

“Tough voices and negative views on China still exist, and the two countries need to manage their differences,” he added.

Terry Branstad, US ambassador to China, said that “the two big economies can work out their differences and work together to our mutual benefit in a win-win situation”.

Chinese-Americans can help to improve the relationship between the people of the two countries, he added.

Tan Tianxing, vice-minister of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, said that it is the mission of overseas Chinese to promote the Chinese dream to the world and build a shared future for mankind.

Tan said he hoped that the Committee of 100 could make full use of its resources in the US and its expertise and use its influence to promote people-to-people exchange and cooperation between China and the US.

Frank H. Wu, chairman of the Committee of 100, said that because Chinese-Americans are closely related with the culture of the two countries, they can help to promote mutual understanding between both sides.

“We Chinese-Americans care about the relations between these two great nations; with the language and cultural skills we have, we could do something different,” he said.