File photo taken on Dec. 18, 2018 shows an assembly plant of CRRC in Springfield, Massachusetts, the United States. The Chinese rail company has completed the production of a pair of subway cars to be delivered to the U.S. state of Massachusetts. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

by Xinhua writer Luo Jingjing

NEW YORK, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China are expected to work together and communicate better for the prosperity of the two nations and the world, experts and politicians have said.

The relationship between China and the United States are facing difficulties, but through communication and joint efforts, people in the two countries will be able to overcome misunderstandings, confusions and policy disagreements to make this world a better place for everyone, said William Colton, New York State Assemblyman, on Saturday at the 40th Anniversary of the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Forum jointly held by New York State Assembly and American Chinese Commerce Association.

Distance and misunderstanding create tensions at all levels and all aspects, and that is where communication and working together come into play, said Colton.

Nicole Malliotakis, New York State Assemblywoman, echoed Colton's speech, saying that "we need to make sure that both our economies continue to work together, and that is how we will continue to prosper."

"It's not just important for our two nations, but it's important for global stability as a whole," she said.

Cultural exchange and economic cooperation between China and the United States have reached a historical level over 40 years' development of communication. The number of travelers between the two countries is about 5.3 million annually. Last year, there were 1.1 million Chinese visiting New York, according to Qiu Jian, deputy consul general of the Chinese consulate general in New York.

China's middle-class population is around 400 million, with deep reservoirs of spending power. Good relationship between China and United States is capable of benefiting the U.S. economy in terms of tourism alone, said Qiu.

U.S. goods and services exported to China were valued at 187.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, which helped employ 911,000 people in the United States, said Jesse Hamilton, former New York State Senator.

Chinese enterprises have made great contribution to the U.S. economy, and China is becoming an increasingly important market for the Untied States. However, tensions between the two countries have induced stock markets volatility and investors' suffering, lower performance expectations of multinational enterprises, fears among small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs, and higher expenses of ordinary families, according to the participants at the forum.

"Are these what we expected when the two countries established diplomatic relationship 40 years ago?" asked Qiu.

"Both our countries are not only the largest economies, but there is also a mutual dependency," said Malliotakis. "I have faith that we will see a mutually beneficial relationship continue in the United States and in China."

"The development of China-U.S. relationship has not only benefitted people in the two countries, but also ensured peace, stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the whole world," said John Chan, chairman of American Chinese Commerce Association (Hong Kong).

Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States, said in a recent comment on U.S.-China relationship, "While today's leaders face a different world, the cause of peace remains just as important. Leaders must bring new vision, courage and ingenuity to new challenges and opportunities, but I believe they also must accept our conviction that the United States and China need to build their futures together, for themselves and for humanity at large."