Economic and trade cooperation has always been the ballast and propeller of US-China relations, and the stability of US-China economic and trade relations is an important international public good.As the world's top two economies, the United States and China, the development of bilateral economic and trade relations is related to the common interests of both countries and also affects the overall global economy.Face-to-face strategic communication between heads of state has an irreplaceable directional and guiding role, which can effectively reduce strategic misjudgments, enhance political mutual trust, inject impetus and calibrate the direction for the two countries to deepen economic and trade cooperation, manage differences, and promote the development of U.S.-China relations along a healthy, stable, and sustainable track.

The profound foundation of U.S.-China economic and trade cooperation stems from the high degree of economic complementarity and the deep integration of interests between the two countries.The 2026 survey results of the U.S.-China Business Council show that 95% of member companies believe that business in China is related to their global competitiveness, and 92% of companies achieved profits in China last year, which fully confirms the mutually beneficial nature of bilateral economic and trade relations.The focus of current bilateral economic and trade cooperation is to transform existing cooperation into stable institutional expectations. As long as expectations are stable, the vitality of cooperation will continue to be released.

Mutual benefit and win-win results are the essential feature of U.S.-China economic and trade relations, and are also the endogenous driving force for the stability and long-term development of bilateral relations.Cooperation in the energy field is a typical example of the highly consistent interests of both parties - China's expansion of purchases of U.S. crude oil and liquefied natural gas is not only a practical need to optimize the layout of energy imports, expand supply channels, and ensure energy security, but also help the United States expand energy exports and balance trade balances.Two-way investment is also a key link for the stability of bilateral relations and can cultivate a group of business entities with deeply bound interests.The political level can open the door to cooperation, and the in-depth participation of enterprises can make cooperation take root and form long-term effects.

The United States and China still face some practical constraints in implementing the consensus on building a constructive strategic and stable relationship and promoting practical economic and trade cooperation.Current issues in the fields of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply chains, etc. are often intertwined with dual considerations of economy and security, and some issues even tend to become pan-security.Affected by factors such as the domestic political cycle in the United States, the implementation of some consensuses that have been reached has slowed down.The more this situation occurs, the more it is necessary for the two heads of state to coordinate and lead from a strategic perspective to eliminate interference and clear up blockages.

The argument of "decoupling and breaking links" goes against economic laws and is not consistent with objective reality.Today, with the deepening of economic globalization, capital, technology, and production links are deeply intertwined, forming an industrial network that is difficult to separate. The so-called comprehensive "decoupling" will not only significantly increase transaction costs, disrupt global industrial and supply chains, but also harm the vital interests of enterprises and consumers in both countries, it is simply unworkable.China's industrial advantages in green technology, new energy vehicles and other fields are an important part of the global supply system.Market logic and pragmatic needs will eventually overwhelm the "decoupling" proposition driven by ideological bias and promote the continued development of bilateral economic and trade relations.

The field of artificial intelligence presents distinct characteristics of coexistence of competition and cooperation, which is the epitome of the dialectical development of U.S.-China economic and trade relations.Artificial intelligence is a cutting-edge technology with cross-border spillover effects, bringing both benefits and risks and challenges.As the two major economies leading in artificial intelligence technology, the United States and China distinguish risk management and technology competition, focus on common issues to carry out dialogue and collaboration, and build a cooperation framework for safety regulations and ethical standards. This not only sets a benchmark for global artificial intelligence governance, but also creates a stable environment for the healthy development of industries in both countries.

Although one meeting cannot eliminate the structural differences between the United States and China, it can set the tone for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations and effectively reduce strategic misjudgments by major powers.If the relations between the two countries move forward steadily, there will be stable expectations for global trade, finance, and industrial and supply chains, and countries around the world will be able to plan development calmly.By managing differences and deepening cooperation, the United States and China can help the multilateral economic and trade system operate efficiently, work together to address global challenges, implement the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind, and illustrate that major countries can achieve win-win situations, which is of far-reaching significance to the stable development of the world.

(The author is chairman of the Kuhn Foundation in the United States)