On February 28, 1972, the last day of U.S. President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China, the two countries released the Shanghai Communique, laying the foundation for resuming their diplomatic ties. Over the past half century, China-U.S. relations have gone through ups and downs.

With profound changes unfolding on the international landscape, as one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world, the relationship between the two countries faces complicated challenges, which concern not only the wellbeing of Chinese and American people, but also world peace and prosperity.

On November 14, 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, had their first face-to-face meeting since the latter assumed the American presidency. During their candid and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral ties and major global issues, Xi pointed out the current state of China-U.S. relations is not in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and is not what the international community expects.

As leaders of two major countries, Xi said, the two presidents need to play the leadership role, set the right course for the China-U.S. relationship and put it on an upward trajectory.

Since the meeting between Xi and Biden, more high-level talks have taken place between the Chinese and the U.S. governments.

Recently, China News Release interviewed Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, to discuss the changes and future prospects of the relations between the two countries.

Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), speaks at the annual Gala Dinner of the NCUSCR in New York, the United States, Oct. 26, 2022. On the same day, both Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden send congratulatory letters to the annual gala dinner.