How to ensure Trump's upcoming China visit is a success

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 30, 2017. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

As Beijing and Washington are preparing for U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China later this year, the event will surely be a special one for the world's most important bilateral relationship.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Sunday wrapped up his whirlwind China visit, during which he and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Trump's visit in November.

Xi said currently President Trump's visit to China is the most important event in China-U.S. relations and the teams on both sides should work closely to make it "successful and special."

Indeed, Trump's scheduled visit will come at a significant moment in time only days after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

The upcoming meeting will be the third between Xi and Trump this year, with two previous meetings in the U.S. state of Florida in April and in the German city of Hamburg in July. In those meetings, Xi and Trump exchanged views on bilateral relations.

Since the U.S. president took office in January, the two leaders have maintained close contact on issues of common concern, including the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula.

The two have held eight phone conversations so far, a record number in the history of the two countries.

Frequent communication between the two presidents is crucial since it can help avoid misunderstandings, smoothly manage differences and strengthen bilateral cooperation.

No doubt the world's two largest economies don't see eye-to-eye on every issue. Therefore, negotiations are key to properly handling differences and disputes, and such talks must be based on mutual respect for each other's core interests.

Just as President Xi has observed, the common interests of the two countries far outweigh their differences, and "cooperation is the only correct choice."

Over the past year, China and the United States have been making progress in bilateral cooperation via four high-level dialogue mechanisms focusing on diplomacy and security, the economy, social and people-to-people exchanges, and law enforcement and cyber security.

Looking ahead, there are numerous areas in which the two countries can continue to work together, not only at the bilateral level, but also at the regional and international levels. Trade and investment and climate change are two examples.

Trump's visit will offer an opportunity for the two leaders to review the achievements in China-U.S. ties and outline the relationship's next steps.

It is hoped that the U.S. president's visit to China will bolster China-U.S. relations and better position both countries to jointly combat global challenges.

Cooperation is in the interest of both China and the United States. Strong ties will not only benefit both countries, but the world as well.