As preparations advance for the upcoming visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to China, American observers including journalists, content creators and scholars are calling for a relationship built on mutual respect, people-to-people understanding and sustained dialogue -- emphasizing that cooperation, not confrontation, serves the fundamental interests of both nations and the world at large.
At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump will pay a state visit to China from Wednesday to Friday.
In separate interviews with China Global Television Network, observers stressed that the foundation of any productive bilateral engagement lies in how the two countries communicate with each other.
"It begins with communicating as equals rather than communicating as one dictating to the other how to behave. But I think there are so many areas where China and the United States could cooperate, could work together. Obviously, there are a lot of business partnerships between China and the United States," said Lee Camp, a U.S. journalist and author.
Camp's remarks reflect a broader sentiment among U.S. civil society voices who see immense potential for collaboration.
For Evan Kail, a U.S. pawn shop owner and content creator known for bridging cultural narratives online, said that trust must be cultivated from the ground up.
"Trust should begin with people-to-people understanding and mutual respect and communication with one another. You can sign a deal on paper. But if you don't understand the other person, then it means nothing. And both sides, especially on the American side, need to sit down and really truly understand each other and communicate with each other to make long, lasting details that really matter at the soul of each nation," said Kail.
While grassroots-level connections gain attention, the machinery of bilateral trade continues to operate with quiet determination. Mario Cavolo, an author and non-resident senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, highlighted the indispensable role of commercial ties.
"Global trade, including trade between the two countries, is enormous and fundamental. Yet it sits quietly in the background, supporting a top priority for both countries, which is global economic stability. Quietly in the background, trade officials from both countries continue communicating with one another and negotiating to keep the wheels of commerce going, creating the core stability that the world needs," said Cavolo.
American voices urge equal dialogue, communication as Trump prepares for China Visit
