Turning 40 is a watershed moment in the Chinese perception of life "Man is free of confusion at 40".

Yet, as the Sino-US diplomatic relationship turns 40 later this month, plenty of confusions haunt, and in some ways bedevil, bilateral ties, which, during his visit to the United States, both Vice-President Xi Jinping and his American hosts have reiterated are probably the most important in the world.

Sino-US ties have weathered the twists and turns in the past thanks largely to the tacit understanding on both sides that the relationship was "too big to fail". But such a consensus alone is too rudimentary to anchor such an important relationship. A cooperative partnership based on mutual respect, mutual benefits and win-win outcomes, to which the leaders of both countries have pledged their commitment, requires a lot more.

That is precisely why many, us included, expect Xi's tightly scheduled trip to be one that upgrades understanding, consensus, and mutual confidence.

The warm welcome Xi has been accorded conveys the reassuring message that his hosts also want bilateral ties to stay on a healthy track. The exchange of concerns, though at some points harsh to the ear, is an essential part of getting to know one another, particularly as the two countries' interests now converge and overlap like never before.

Political realists in both countries tend to consign the bilateral ties to real-world interests, believing that the deeply entwined business links between them are strong enough to prevent the relations from irreparable damage.

But the truth is Sino-US trade is constantly falling victim to political entanglements. Addressing the "trust deficit" therefore is a more pressing imperative than dealing with the trade deficit. That China is again the bogyman in the US election rhetoric reveals a prevailing misjudgment about China.

If China's verbal statements of its intentions are unconvincing to the skeptical, there are plenty of opportunities to watch how it conducts itself. The Chinese belief in, and pursuit of, peaceful co-existence, is based firmly on our time-honored tradition of "live and let live". The assumption that a rising China will inevitably rival and threaten the US exposes a lamentable ignorance of this nation's philosophy of getting along with others.

The real challenge lies in the US' willingness and capability to adapt to the changes taking place in the world.

Beijing's commitment to creating a constructive partnership with Washington, which is the top priority on Xi's agenda, demonstrates its desire to create a model of harmonious co-existence between major powers. That this is unprecedented does not mean it's impossible.

There was no precedent for us to follow when the country embarked on reform and opening-up, we made it by "crossing the river by feeling the stones". This is also Xi's recommendation for the way to ensure there is further progress in the relations between the countries.

The two countries do not have to be rivals.

(China Daily 02/16/2012 page8)