Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping left Beijing on Feb. 13 for an official visit to the United States at the invitation of his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden, marking the beginning of the two countries' high-level exchanges in 2012. Xi's visit is intended to implement the consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries to promote the establishment and development of a cooperative partnership on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

Xi's visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of former U.S. president Richard Nixon's visit to China and the signing of the Shanghai Communique. Over the past 40 years, China-U.S. relations have witnessed significant development despite differences on certain issues.

The two countries have more common interests than differences, and cooperation has been the main focus of their bilateral relations. The cooperation between the two countries has benefited their people, and the healthy development of their relations has contributed much to a peaceful and favorable environment for global economic development.

Following the trend of the times and seizing opportunities is crucial to promoting the development of China-U.S. relations. The consensus reached by top Chinese and U.S. leaders to build a cooperative partnership on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit has fully reflected the characteristics of China-U.S. relations in the new era. The two countries should continue win-win cooperation based on mutual respect.

Clearly understanding the complexity of the China-U.S. relations and facing contradictions directly are very important for seizing the development opportunity of the China-U.S. relations. The differences and divergences of views should not be barriers for the development of the relations. Only frankly facing and correctly dealing with these differences and divergences of views could keep raising the level of their cooperation. The vast Pacific Ocean is big enough to hold the two large countries of China and the United States.

In order to seize the development opportunity of the China-U.S. relations, both countries must respect each other. As long as the two sides strengthen their political and strategic mutual trust, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, sovereignty and territorial integrity, social system and development road, communicate with each other frankly and promote their cooperation, they will certainly be able to realize the goal of common development and mutual benefit.

The development of the China-U.S. relations has gone beyond borders and is affecting the whole world. In the new situation, China and United States especially need to strengthen their communication, coordination and cooperation and jointly play a constructive and responsible role in safeguarding and promoting the global peace, stability and development.

Every meeting of the two countries' leaders contains abundant historic significance. The exchange visits of the two countries' leaders have guided and promoted the development of the China-U.S. relations many times and widely affected the world. We believe that, with efforts of both sides, Vice President Xi Jinping's official visit will surely be a great success.