2014-01-02 09:42:32
CRIENGLISH.com Web Editor: Chen Cong

When Chinese and American leaders normalized relations in 1979, they hoped this relationship would remain on a steady track and benefit both countries for centuries to come. Today, Sino-US relations are so complicated it's impossible to sum this up in one word.
Economic relations are so intertwined that any policy change by one side could significantly affect the other. China and the US are key trading partners. Bilateral trade fuels their growth and investment supports each other's employment. But many tricky issues remain.
Despite close economic ties, political differences between Beijing and Washington still have potential to destabilize this relationship. Recent US moves in the South China Sea and East China Sea have led many Chinese to believe that it is acting against China's core interests in the region.
So how do Chinese and US experts describe China-US relations today? What needs to be done to ensure this relationship remains beneficial for both sides?
Ni Hao, you're listening to
People In the Know, bringing you insights into the headlines in China, and around the world, I'm Zheng Chenguang in Beijing.
We speak to
Zha Xiaogang, Director of the Institute for World Economy studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, and Dr. Ann Lee, adjunct professor of economics and finance at New York University.