US officials, experts urge continued efforts toward steady, constructive relations with China

Stephen Schwarzman, chairman and CEO of the Blackstone Group, addresses the Gala Dinner 2026 Celebrating 60 Years of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) via video, in New York, the United States, Nov. 10, 2026. Continued engagement and communication are vital for the United States and China to manage differences and maintain a steady and constructive relationship, said business and diplomatic leaders at the Gala Dinner 2026 Celebrating 60 Years of the NCUSCR. (Xinhua/Zhang Fengguo)

by Xinhua writers Shi Chun, Liu Yanan

NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Continued engagement and communication are vital for the United States and China to manage differences and maintain a steady and constructive relationship, said business and diplomatic leaders at the Gala Dinner 2026 Celebrating 60 Years of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR).

Addressing the event in New York on Tuesday night, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted the historic frequency of mutual visits between the two leaders in a single year, saying that U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have "forged a friendship built on mutual respect and the vital interests of our people."

The two countries are currently establishing a new dialogue on artificial intelligence, designed to guard against shared risks and prevent misunderstandings between the two systems, Bessent noted.

Through joint efforts, both the U.S. and Chinese economies can become stronger, he added, emphasizing that the United States will work to bring the two peoples closer and foster shared prosperity.

Evan Greenberg, executive vice chair of the NCUSCR, said that "competition and rivalry are features of the U.S.-China relationship, but they shouldn't become the sole factor defining it, particularly in this era of technological revolution and deep global interdependence."

"A new vision for how the world's two leading powers will relate to each other is needed," he said.

Stephen A. Orlins, the outgoing NCUSCR president, said he would remain committed to continuing his efforts toward better U.S.-China relations benefiting the people of both countries.

Orlins, who has long been dedicated to fostering the bonds of friendship between the two peoples, stepped down following this year's gala dinner.

He is succeeded by Sarah Beran, who has seen ups and downs of the U.S.-China ties in her 23-year diplomatic career.

"I have never stopped believing in the importance of communication to manage our differences, and where possible, to find common ground," she said.

"And that, at its core, is the mission of the NCUSCR," Beran said.