Actions speak louder than words

Collaboration between US and China is indispensable but more needs to be done to overcome mutual misperceptions

Revolution and transformation in the Middle East and West Africa; the catastrophic earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis in Japan; the paralysis of the leadership of the European Union confronting the debt crisis in the eurozone; and the sudden death of Kim Jong-il, were just a few of the tumultuous events that caused global economic and political instability last year.

In contrast, bilateral relations between China and the United States were relatively stable and increasingly positive.