As the world's two major greenhouse gas emitters, how the United States and China will cooperate and assume responsibility is a concern with global ramifications.

Undoubtedly, China and the United States still, and will always, have disagreements, especially in the fields of trade, currencies, greenhouse gas emissions, and political and military trust.

But disagreements provide room for talks, improved communications and enhanced cooperation.

Both the United States and China have showed their seriousness in resolving those disagreements. The two sides in July upgraded the China-US economic dialogue to a strategic level.

In addition, during their meetings at the G20 Summit in London in April and at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Hu and Obama signaled willingness to promote a "positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship in the 21st century."

When addressing the first round of the China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue in July, Obama quoted ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius: "A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time."

The American president said that he hoped China and the US "forge a path to the future" to "prevent mistrust or the inevitable differences" from blocking that path.

A possible solution for keeping the path clear may rest in the words of Confucius -- "Wishing to be established himself, he seeks also to establish others; wishing to be enlarged himself, he seeks also to enlarge others."

The world has every reason to closely watch Obama's China visit, as whether the two countries will travel the path of understanding and cooperation or choose to collide and confront will affect the world as a whole.

(Xinhua News Agency November 18, 2009)