The relationship between China and the US is a parameter of the world's peaceful trend in the 21st century. A friendly Sino-US relationship benefits the whole world, while a hostile one does harm to all. Currently, the relationship has come to a critical juncture as the balance of power between the two is changing.

August 22 is the 110th anniversary of the birth of former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping. Reviewing his historical contribution to Sino-US relations in the 1970s is of pragmatic significance.

Zhu Jiamu, former vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, recalled in his book The Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the CPC as I Knew It that Deng made a speech during the session in 1978, which urged some officials to focus on a bigger picture and work on establishing diplomatic ties with the US first.

At that time, Deng was determined to normalize relations between China and the US, because he viewed this relationship as part of the grand strategy of reform and opening-up and he took into consideration China's development in the next few decades and the prospects of relations between China and the whole world.

Deng was clear that if China was to open itself, first it had to open itself to the US. Without the thawing of Sino-US relations, China could not open itself, and could not integrate to the world as a result.

During the negotiation process, the most sensitive issue was the US arms sales to Taiwan.

Deng wisely chose neither to entangle with this issue, nor compromise his principles. He preferred to shelve the unsettled issues.

At that crucial juncture, Deng exercised his restraint and political wisdom. With flexibility, he secured China's long-term interests and won precious strategic opportunities for China's reform and opening-up.

History has proven that establishing diplomatic ties between China and the US was a landmark event that has greatly affected China's relations with other countries in modern times.

In the past three decades, the one  country that has influenced China's reform and opening-up most has been the US, and China has benefited a lot from its relations with the US.

Within this period of time, as China's reform and opening-up deepens, the US' China policy has turned from containment to precaution, and from engagement to cooperation.

Meanwhile, the relationship has changed. Previously the US took the leading role. Now the two mutually affect each other.

China's development has become the main element of the trajectory of bilateral relations.

Currently, this bilateral relationship has come to a critical point. As its strength is relatively declining, the US is investing less in global governance. Even it sticks to its "pivot to Asia" strategy, it is biting off more than it can chew, especially in terms of its financial input.

The changing strength of the two has made their mentality and perspective toward each other differ from the past. The role of both countries in the international system is also changing.

In recent years, the US' China strategy has shifted, to a large extent, to respond to China's changes. Many of its policies are contingent or even self-contradictory. Some US experts have criticized Washington's China policies as inconsistent.

At the same time, China has begun to play a vital role in maintaining security and promoting development in Asia. It also weighs heavier in rule-making and establishing the new order. More importantly, it has become capable of leading Sino-US relations toward further cooperation.

However, this doesn't necessarily mean China has more capabilities to confront the US. That China raised the notion of establishing a new type of major power relationship with the US is evidence of China's confidence, courage and wisdom.

If China and the US can find common ground and can join hands in solving thorny global and regional issues, it will ease doubt between the two and reduce confrontation. The current Sino-US relationship needs more cooperative projects.

The author is a senior editor with People's Daily. He is now stationed in Brazil. dinggang@globaltimes.com.cn. Follow him on Twitter at @dinggangchina