Policy, not rhetoric

Kerry told reporters he wanted to ensure that Saturday's pledges were "not just rhetoric, but ... real policy".

He predicted he would be making "many trips" to Beijing, hailing what he called "an extremely positive and constructive day ... beyond what I anticipated in many regards".

Shi Yinhong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, said China and the US have reached consensus on various issues during Kerry's visit, but what is most important is to implement their agreements.

"China and the US have made many positive comments in the past. But when it comes to specific issues and major interests of the two countries, how to deal with them will become very complicated," Shi said in an interview with China Radio International.

George Koo, an international business consultant and board member of New America Media, said that Kerry has indicated willingness to abandon or at least de-emphasize the US "pivot to Asia" as a maneuver to counter China interests.

"If he can truly convey a genuine desire to cooperate and work with China rather than as an adversary, then he stands a chance at strengthening bilateral relations," Koo said. "It's not possible to build positive relations in an atmosphere of mutual distrust. The biggest challenge for Secretary of State Kerry is to depart from a sense of confrontation to one of mutual cooperation on the many issues of common interest, and not to allow differences to magnify into issues of open friction," Koo said.

Bonnie S. Glaser, senior adviser for Asia in the Freeman Chair of China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said managing differences and building trust remain challenges in China-US relations.

"It is in the interests of both countries to have a primarily cooperative relationship, while recognizing that they will have some conflicts of interest and some major differences, but those should not dominate the relationship," Glaser said.

They should reach an understanding that they will seek to resolve any differences peacefully and through consultation, she added.

Xinhua contributed to this story.